Expert: Ryan Hale - 6/30/2010

Question
"Hiya,
Please answer my uestion as I have already had it unanswered once.
Im a bit confused as to what to do. Ever since I was younger, Ive been obsessed with weight and being thin, how thin I am compared to other people, how thin other people are. You can understand that im sure as most girls are. Ive just always known been thinner will be better, I enjoy weight loss or at least attempting. Im still a healthy weight. Im 5 foot 7 and weigh 8 stone. Ive skipped breakfast since I was very young and thats just me. Then when I was about 14 I started skipping lunch. Ive always known though that I eat alot more than what Id like to, so thsi year ive been skipping dinner. when i do eat dinner i'll assess like what im having and choose soup or i weigh out 35g of pasta o rice and i like to leave a certain amount but I know that eating them sort of foods makes me feel fat and bloated and its like failing a diet that i created.  That bit sounds bad but then I used to go the gym everyday but lately Ive had lots of work and thigns on and not been able to go and Ive not been running or anything so although I feel really guilty, it obviously hasnt made me go. I also tend to eat high in fat foods like chocolate or crisps or cake. I feel reallly really guilty when I do but I seem to eat one of these a day still. So Im still fat and everything, Ive not lost weight really so I cant have anything wrong with me in that sense. But my house mates approched me and were going to ring my parents unless I agreed to see someone which at the moment I have put off. However I dont know what I want to do. I dont really want to go to see a doctor as I think that as i dont have an eating disorder and Im too fat to be ill or anything, id be time wasting. But then one thing that my housemates dont know is that Ive been taking laxatives for a year now every day and night which I want to stop because I don't want all the problems from them and Im not stupid I know its just water weight but it scares me not to have them." and was asked on 06/24/2010

Answer
Samm- sorry to have missed your question coming across my computer at one time or another.  It sounds to me as if you have bulimia or are well on your way there.  Most bulimics are at or around "normal" weight.  I would agree with your friends that you could benefit from seeing someone about this.  it is a complex problem and can require looking into a few aspects of your life so it's not a one-time visit to a therapist sort of thing.  But, don't let that be intimidating, you have an unhealthy relationship with food and your body.  That can be worked through with some help.  Please consider talking with a counselor.