AboutMeg Expertise I am recovinging from about nine years with my eating disorder and while I am not a psychologist, I`ve accumulated a good deal of knowlege about eating disorders as well as my own experience over this time. I`ve mainly struggled with anorexia, but have definitely had times where I have engaged in bulimic behaviors as well. I also struggle with over exercising, but am about to be certified as a personal trainer and have learned moderation as well as how to treat my body well so it can perform at it`s best. I promise to give an honest answer to anything asked, and I want to say that while it is a long, scary road---it is possible to get free of this and it is so important to keep on taking little steps and knowing that you are not alone.
Experience Sufferer for nine plus years. Also, my Mom has strugged with this issue- as have others in her side of the family.
Question I have struggled with an eating disorder (both anorexia and bulimia) since I was 13. I am now 25. I was also a vegetarian from the time I was 14 until I was 20. I first noticed hair loss when i was 19 or 20. It was a really big deal at the time, but then it seemed to get better. I noticed my hair was thinning again about 3 years ago. Although the hair loss has stopped now, I have about half the hair I used to when I was a teenager. Do you know if hair loss related to eating disorders is reversible?
Answer Hi Dana,
Thanks for your question and I hope that I can be of some help.
It has been my experience from my own situation as well as from others girls that I've known, that your hair should eventually return to normal, or pretty close to that. I notice that you have struggled with this for quite some time. Although I'm not certain from your note if you are recovered or still working on it, I would guess that because you have had your eating disorder for a longer period of time, your body is just taking awhile to get fully back to normal. I, too, spent many years being sick and so it took my body quite some time to function in a fully normal and healthy way.
I would recommend looking at your diet now and assessing that you are getting all of the vitamins and nutrients (especially protein) that you need as these things can cause your hair to stay sparse. If you are, then keep up the great work and if it looks like you are falling short, then try to take a multivitamin daily and up your protein intake.
If you *are* recovered and are consistently eating a healthy diet, then I would check with your doctor and see if there is another underlying cause of your hair staying sparse. Again, my guess is that it will slowly get thicker, but there certainly are other conditions that can cause hair loss and thinning as well.
Best of luck to you and I hope this helped. Please write again if there is anything else I can help with.
