Expert: Joanne - 7/17/2007

Question
Hi..Im 15 years old and hoping you can help me!

Recently i decided to start starving myslef..it was for 2 reasons..i was feeling overweight and also i fert like the only thing im really in control of in my life is what im eating..but now i dont i think its getting out of control! ...In skool at lunch i tell my mates that im not hungry..or i feel ill or that i had loads for breakfast..or i would jus buy something like crisps so that i could jus throw them on the floor wen know one was looking. If they ask me questions about it i just say that i eat loads at home just dont like aeting at skool. But wen i come home i dont eat ne thing then..I only eat wen i really have to, like on saturday i went out for a meal with some friends for my mates birthday, so i shared a pizza with 1 of my mates, but then later on i made myself sick..And usually wen my mum makes me dinner i bring it up 2 my room and put it into a bag..then on the way to skool i throw it away..but last nite she asked me to sit and eat with her :S so i did but after i felt really bad..i weigh myself 24-7 and i have lost nearly a stone in about, 3 weeks. im scared that i might be aneroxic. i have told one of my friends about it but i dont think she really knows how to help me..I want to tell my mum. But im really scared of what she will say. I know she will only but angry coz she cares..but im really scared..and all my friends have started to notice now..i dont know what to do. when i get on the scales i feel so upset if i dont loose anything..but usually i do as im not eating ANYTHING!

Im havin a really hard time trying to figure out if i have an eating disorder..and wot to do if i have! i really want to tell my mum ..but im sooo scared :(

Thanks for reading this and please help me!
xxx  

Answer
I think that your mum may suspect something is going on!  Is it normal for her to ask you to sit and eat with her - she probably just wanted to see that you are eating!

If you think that this is going to be too hard to tell your mum, why not tell someone that you feel you can tell and then have them there when you tell her - a friend, relative or even a teacher?

You definitely seem to have the beginning of disordered eating patterns, and the sooner that these are dealt with, the better.  The longer this goes on, the harder it is to change these habits, and the more likely health problems become.

If after reading this, you still can't think of someone to help tell your mum - why not print off your e-mail to me?

Please feel free to come back if you want to discuss anything!!!!

All the best
Holly