Expert: Joanne - 2/3/2007

Question
I think that I have had anorexia for the past year and a half or so. I have not been diagnosed or told anyone.

I was eating very little (maybe only 300-400 calories a day sometimes). I lost weight but to me it didnt seem like that much. Before I started restricting my food, I weighed about 54 kg. I am 1.6 m tall (5'3 I think). The lowest weight that I went down to was about 47.5 or 48 kg. This doesn't seem like such an unhealthy weight to me, in fact I still want to only weigh about 48.5kg. I know that is underweight but not such an unhealthy weight? I looked thin, but not anorexic!

The problem is that I havent got my period for almost a year now and I'm really scared! I have started to try and eat normally again but still find this really hard. I get freaked out if I eat anything slightly fattening. I am trying to eat about 1200 a day now but am so scared that I will put on weight. I weigh about 49 or 50kg at the moment and really dont want to put on weight but I want to get my period back and dunno what to do!

Please could you help me? How many calories should I be eating to maintain my weight of 49 kg and to get my period back again? Have i caused permanent damage? Will I EVER get my period back?? How long will it take??  

Answer
In order to get your period back, you need to be eating a 'normal' diet which consists of 1800-2000 calories.  It sounds a lot, but that is what you need to be eating in order for your body to function properly.

You shouldn't have caused permanent damage, this should be reversible, but I would rather you sought a Dr's opinion on that than just take mine!

The time it will take depends on how long it takes for your body to build up its necessary fat stores.  As much as this might sound horrible to you, your body needs to have a certain fat percentage in order for it to function, and menstruation will stop when it falls below that level as it affects hormone production!

I think that any weight that is below normal can be unhealthy.  And I think that your thought process sounds like it is more of a health hazard than your actual weight, so I think you need to seek professional help, and ASAP!

Holly