Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 11/18/2006

Question
i asked my daughter about whether she binges and she said that the most she eats is a chew and spit of 2 pieces of bread max but then she exercises heaps to burn it off! so i am not sure and even with the "starvation mode" she will still lose that much weight? but she will definitly lose weight?
she had today a lick of vegemite and 4 chewies (gum) and thats it and she exercised heaps in the heat practically just walked and walked and rode her bike!

so you are sure about the weight loss then?

and why did you say concern for the flabby arms?/ but the will probn go if she continues with the fast right?
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hi sorry about  the delay been busy sorry..

yes she is 17 and she weighs anywhwere from 49-52kg she has recently put on weight and been eating less i don;t understand she exexrcises her little heart out and she doensn't lose why would this be?

she chews and spits a piece of bread max or 2 and i am always here and she never eats so why doesn;t she ose weight?

so now can you tell me how much she will lose on thei 30 day fast please!
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hi how are you?

my daughter who is 17 has an ed and altely got into the chewing and spitting but what i dont understandis that she hardly eats apart from chew adn spit and her legs and arms are  flabby why could this be she also exercises around 5-7 hours per day. i just don't understand can you help me!

she now reckons that she is not eat for a month and i knwo that she will stick to this and am scared that she will lose to much! do you have any idea as to  how much possibly she could lose? please indicate me to how much please roughly
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I need to know her current height and weight. How much she has lost recently and for how long she has had her eating disorder.
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she could lose anywhere from 10-30 lbs I would say. But everyone is different and their body reacts to those stressors differently. The reason why she is not losing weight with the amount she eats right now is likely because her body is in starvation mode. It is holding on to every ounce that it can.... If she continues to not eat, eventually her body with shut down certain systems (often why those with eating disorders don't have, or lose, their period) to preserve energy. She could also be binging without you knowing. I know you say that you are basically with her every minute of every day.... but individuals with eating disorders are very good at hiding things and lying.

Answer
The "flabby arms" is probably because she has lost a lot of weight and has excess skin. Unfortunately that will probably not go away... maybe a little bit, but it will probably still be quite noticeable.

There is no doubt that your daughter will continue to lose weight. There really is no way to tell how much she will lose though. I have to be suspicous at this point... and if I'm wrong I am sorry I have offended you - but these questions seem to be very persistent and don't quite sound like a concerned mother.

At this point I am going to recommend that you force your daughter to see a doctor. I am sorry but I can no longer answer your questions.