Expert: Joanne - 3/20/2007

Question
Hey i was wondering if you coould answer a question for me? I think that i MAY have an eating disorder, as i sometimes throw up my food in order to make me feel better. That or i starve myself (just drink coffee) to the point where i get sweaty hands and feel like i am just about to pass out. But it varies as to when i do this. I am also a very active person and do alot of exercise burning at least 1500 a day. My mates mum is pretty worried about me and thinks i do have a disorder, but i am too scared to tell the doc, can you help?

Answer
I think that you having an eating disorder is a great possibility!  Choosing to starve yourself, or make yourself sick are very serious behaviours that have a lot of associated health dangers!

If you are burning as many calories as you state, you really need to be eating enough to compensate for that!

I think that your friend's mum is right to be worried!  I know that it can be hard to talk to the Dr, so why not try phoning a helpline first so that you can talk it through without being face-to-face.  Either that, or are you very close to your friend's mum, or even your own mum?  Why not talk to them, and then possibly ask them to come to the Dr with you?

This needs medical intervention soon!  You need to get the professional help that your Dr will hopefully be able to refer you to.

Hope this helps, please come back if you have any more questions!
Holly