Expert: Autumn - 10/27/2006

Question
if it stunted my growth, would my bone age be younger than normal? at 15, how much of a window would there be for growth?
p/s your answer was very helpful and i followed the link :)
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I am 15 years old. I developed bulimia when I was thirteen, this slowed my growth to an inch per year. I had never had a period. I am the shortest in my family now by far, and even shorter than my mid parent height. I am eating a healthy diet with calium etc. hoping to grow, but i have still never gotten my period( i have been recovering for 4 months) I am convinced that I was supposed to be a few inches taller, what are the chances I could still grow a few inches and get my period. Also, I have been eating a ballanced diet and Definetly enough calories, but am losing weight. I am now underweight and it makes no sense, I was thinking it could be a thyroid problem and that could be the reason I am shorter an haven't gotten my period, or is it most likely just the bulimia?
-----Answer-----
Hi Grace! I am sorry to hear that you had suffered from bulimia. I dealt with anorexia as well as bulimia when I was in that age range, and I know how tough it is to face the aftermath. Since being healthy and eating right is so essential during the years of puberty, it's a really hard age to go through when faced with an eating disorder, and I must say that it's a difficult question to answer since I'm not certain of the effects bulimia has had on you. I am so glad to hear you are in recovery now. You should be so proud of yourself! As far as growth/periods go, keep in mind you're only 15. There is still plenty of hope that you will grow taller, and though it's no guarantee, it's nothing to be ashamed of if you don't grow any taller. There is no precise way to grow...everyone grows at his or her own rate, and though eating disorders certainly have an effect on our bodies during teen years, you may still have a growth spurt to go through. A doctor can determine if you're your maximum height by x-ray, so talk to your parent about finding out. Your bulimia may have caused a form of amenorrhea(period loss), and it's something you'll need to discuss with your doctor. I also highly recommend that you go see a gynecologist. Doctors really are essential at this stage of recovery, and they will know what to do so that you are healthy again. As far as losing weight goes, are you very active? Though you may be consuming enough calories, you could be burning more than what you should be. Other factors could be metabolism problems, and it could be a thyroid problem, but you'll have to see a doctor to determine exactly what the problem is. Unfortunately bulimia does cause all the problems that you're now facing, but I promise you it will get better. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.
Here is a link I think you should check out, as it has a lot of helpful information about recovering/effects/etc.:
http://www.somethingfishy.org/

There is plenty of hope for you Grace. Just stay strong and keep up the good work! You should be very proud of yourself for conquering that horrible disease! You will make it through this! Have a great day and smile! You're on the road to a healthy, happy life!


Answer
Hi Grace! I'm so sorry it's taken so long to respond. I haven't gotten the chance to check my email until now. Your bone age is something you'll have to discuss with your doctor, and like I said before, the growth you may or may not have left can be determined with an x-ray of your spine. How tall are you now? I'd say it's a possibility you could grow between 1 and 5 more inches, but I'm no doctor and I could be wrong. If height is a big concern to you, there are spinal exercises you can do that could increase your height between 1/2 inch and an inch. If it'd make you feel more confident, there are inserts for your shoe that make you appear taller, and you could always pair a pair of long jeans with some heels, but like I said, your height is nothing to be ashamed of, and you are beautiful whether you're 3 feet tall or 6 feet tall. I'm glad I was able to help you, and yes, keep that site bookmarked! It's a great resource. If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a more in depth answer, but your growth and periods are something very individual, and only a doctor could be able to provide you with a precise answer.

Stay strong and keep your health progressing!