Expert: Meg - 11/15/2011

Question
Hi, I am a college student and I think I’m having eating problems. I am just under 5’2”, and I weigh 105.4 pounds. I am currently on a calorie restricted diet to lose a small amount of fat on my belly and thighs. The thing is, I usually end up eating no more than 1,000 calories in a day (I am not physically active). What I find pretty abnormal is that I eat 200-400 calories during the day…then, during and after dinner, I eat the rest of my calories. To be honest, sometimes I feel like the only reason I don’t eat fewer calories is because I don’t want my body to hang onto any fat it can get. I spend a lot of time reading about how to lose weight and stuff. This method has been working for me, but I have to wonder if it’s healthy; I am almost constantly thinking about food. I have a cheat day every two weeks where I can eat anything I want, but during my last cheat day, I felt a bit nauseous and had no appetite before each meal, almost as if my body doesn’t want high calorie foods, anymore. I weigh myself every morning and take wheat germ or acai berry capsules to suppress my appetite. I also constantly drink tea and water to avoid feeling hungry before I plan to eat. I usually have a small breakfast, wait four or five hours, have a little snack (which I count as lunch), and then I wait another four or so hours before dinner and my post-meal binge. I don’t like having to guess at the amount of calories in any food, it really bothers me. If I have to, I overestimate on purpose. I feel proud when I end up below my calorie count (which should be 1,240, based on my weight loss app) and I always end up lying to my mom about having eaten lunch at school…but I don’t know what I am. I don’t fit the diagnostic criteria for a typical eating disorder. Am I EDNOS? Am I anything at all?

Answer
Hi Rachel,

Thanks for your question and I apologize for taking a few days to get back to you.  I hope that this finds you doing well and having a good week.

I'm so sorry that you're going through this and struggling with food/weight/eating disorder issues.  Much of what you mention in your question (severely restricting your intake to under 1000 calories, not eating much during the day, feeling like you need to lose weight when you are already under weight, the general obsession with food and weighing yourself, lying about your behaviors) are signs to me that you are wise to be aware of what is going on.  None of this is "normal" per se, and much of it can lead to a really unhealthy obsession as well as take all of your focus and energy from the positive things you could be focusing on and uses that energy to obsess about food and weight.  

Here are a few self tests for you, as perhaps that will help you understand what is going on and feel more sure that there probably is a problem to be aware of:

http://www.something-fishy.org/isf/questionnaire.php

http://www.aplaceofhope.com/evaluations.html

While it is impossible for me to say for sure that this is a problem, from what you've written, I would feel pretty confident that you're at least on the road to a really unhealthy mindset and behaviors and its good that you're aware of this now.  

So often, those of us who end up developing eating disorders are all too aware of the diagnostic criteria of what is a "real" eating disorder.  Sadly, those criteria are often the most broad guidelines for clinicians to use in categorizing and billing insurance.  In all of my years dealing with my own eating issues and knowing others who struggle, as well as helping others once I was in recovery, I can truly say that very few people ever meet one specific diagnosis.  Therefore, it is not worth it to worry about WHAT eating disorder you have, but more important to realize that there is a problem and that staying on the track of getting sicker will lead to wasted time, bad health and ultimately regret.  

Hopefully, this gives you a bit to think about.  I'm going to attach a few more links with more information in case you'd like it :)

http://www.something-fishy.org/whatarethey/edordiet.php

http://www.something-fishy.org/isf/misconceptions.php

http://caringonline.com/eatdis/intro.htm

I hope this helps.  Please feel free to write again if there is anything else I can help with.  And above all, please take care of yourself.  You deserve much more than being sick can ever give you.

Best,
Meg