Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 12/25/2010

Question
Hi,

I am 16 years old and around 6 months ago was so depressed from being overweight that my mom got me to see a personal trainer. I worked very hard running four days a week and doing weights three days a week.
I should also tell you the reason I was overweight was because I was on medication for depression which made me very hungry all the time and each time they increased my dose on the medication my weight would go up.
Over these last 6 months I have lost 40 pounds. I went from 165 to 125. My diet was about average when I started loosing weight around 1800 calories. As I lost weight through running and weights my diet getting healthier and healthier because I thought 'if him working so hard to loose this weight why should I eat junk food if its going to make me fat again?'

Right now I am eating around 900 calories a day. I have been loosing weight very quickly and have reached my 125 pound goal. I never, ever eat junk food; if I do happen to have one cookie or even go over my calorie limit with something healthy like an orange I freak out; I think about that one cookie or orange for hours and I won't eat anything for the rest of the day.  All that is on my mind right now is food—its on my mind all the time, even when I’m sleeping I dream about being fat again.
I am worried about myself, I get to the point sometimes where I feel this feeling taking over my body which probably sounds crazy to you, I feel out of control. I skip meals some days, just to loose weight.

Right now during the holidays I feel horrible. I can usually refuse cookies but I have had a few yesterday from the batch that I baked, I felt totally disgusted with myself and didn't eat for the rest of the day. I counted my calories and it added up to around 500 that day.
I’m scared and I don't know what to do. I don't want to tell my mom because shes just going to think I’m doing this for attention.  Please help, does this sound like a eating disorder?

Thank you so much, happy holidays!

Laura

Answer
Dear Laura,

What you're experiencing happens frequently!  It's so easy for someone to go from one eating disorder to another.  You are exhibiting symptoms of anorexia now.  The exercise and being so obsessive with your food.  You'll keep on losing weight - -and that's not what you want to do!  When someone is thinking about what they're going to eat or what they're not going to eat 95% of the time, it tells me that they're pretty close to having an eating disorder.

I know for sure that you're not doing this for attention -- a person doesn't starve themselves for attention.  Dieting oftentimes produces results like you've gotten!

Ask you mom if you can see a dietitian  -- someone who can agive you a proper meal plan now.  You can also have your mother contact me if she'd like.  This is serious -- anorexia has the highest death rate of any diagnosis.  More young women die of anorexia than by suicide, depression, or accidents.  20% of women with anorexia die of the disorder.

I'm glad that you wrote me.  Like I said, see about a dietitian -- and then maybe a therapist who can help.  Please let me know how you do!!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Owner
Mirasol, Inc.
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
888-520-1700