Anorexia/Eating Disorders/Recovery Question

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 1/2/2011


Question
Hi, I was diagnosed with anorexia almost 2 years ago and now I'm 18 years old. My weight gain during recovery has been pretty slow, which is fine with me, but my mom gets really disappointed with me if I start slipping. Most of the time, I know it isn't my fault because I pretty much always eat around the same amount but it really upsets me. She says I have a fast metabolism but she still gets mad if I lose a pound or two in a month. I'm not sure of my exact weight, but I'm around 90-95 lbs at 5'1. I feel like 90 lbs is a good weight for my height because I'm naturally petite (and it's a higher weight than I was pre-anorexia) but my mom wants me closer to 95. I'm not sure what to do.

Answer

Jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Ashley,

Almost never, ever do I take the part of the parent but in your case, your mom is right.  It's about BMI  or body mass index.  If you were 90#, your BMI would be 17.  To have a normally functioning body with periods, etc. you need a BMI of 18.  If you weight 95#, your BMI would be 17.9.

I think the thing to do with your mom is to agree to stay in the mid-90s.  Everyone's body weight fluctuates.  It's never the same every day -- and your mom needs to realize this.

Your mom is scared.  She wants you to be well and healthy.  Anorexia is such a deadly disease.  She loves you and wouldn't know what to do if she lost you!  20% of all anorexics die from the disease -- it's has the highest death rate of disorder among young women including depression and accidents.

Please let me know how you work this out with your mom.  I bet you can compromise and find a solution.

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
1-888-520-1700

Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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