Eating Disorders Q&A
10 experts · 63 questions answered
Latest Q&As
I am tormented by gross thoughts about food that I can't stop and it's interfering with life. How do I stop them?
The kind of experience you are describing is not unusual, but it is not a typical food addiction or eating disorder problem. The thoughts may be something that are called obsessions and might be relieved with a medication. Working with a therapist who specializes in cognitive therapy will also be he
Answered by William Anderson
What can I do to help my friend? She told me that she made herself throw up and she stopped eating for two days cause her sister called her fat.
You don't have the power to control your friend, but knowledge is power. If you both acquire some good knowledge about dangerous eating disorders (which can even be fatal), that may be all you need to avoid a dangerous brush with a very dangerous eating disorder. Read everything you can find from re
Answered by William Anderson
Eating Disorders
Hello there- I'm glad you wrote. Eating disordered behaviors, like restricting and throwing up, have a lot to do with unprocessed negative emotions and, in this case, self-esteem. It seems to me that your friend had hurt feelings with her sister, which triggered insecurity. She chose to cope with th
Answered by Katie Brooks
What can I do to help my friend? She told me that she made herself throw up and she stopped eating for two days cause her sister called her fat.
You don't have the power to control your friend, but knowledge is power. If you both acquire some good knowledge about dangerous eating disorders (which can even be fatal), that may be all you need to avoid a dangerous brush with a very dangerous eating disorder. Read everything you can find from re
Answered by William Anderson
Do I Have an Eating Disorder? My Friends Say I am Too Skinny.
A reader asks if they have an eating disorder, feeling confused about gaining satisfaction from appearing skinnier despite knowing they are too thin, and constantly thinking about restricting food to avoid getting fat.
Answered by William Anderson
Guilt About Bulimia
Dear Anonymous, Thanks so much for reaching out. I'll answer your question with some other questions first. When you say you feel guilty about bulimia, I'd like to understand more. More specifically, what do you mean by 'about?' This is not a challenge to you but a path I would take to better compre
Answered by Rob Danzman
HowMuch is Too Much?
Hi there and thanks for your question. I have no interest in fear mongering or hysteria - I'm a bit perplexed that you seem to see purging as not a big deal - it's a problem for 1 in 4 college aged women in the U.S. It may not be an issue for you, but it certainly is a huge problem nationally. To an
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Anorexia and a Best Friend
Dear Good Friend, Let me start by saying that just the fact that you are reaching out says so much about what a great friend you are. You clearly are concerned and want to help. Next, I'm going to give you some basic information about anorexia and then the warning with some specifics on what you rea
Answered by Rob Danzman
Eating Disorders
Hi Anonymous- I know that it can sometimes be very confusing diagnosing yourself. I think it depends on your weight and age. If you are an adult and your BMI is under 19 then you are underweight and that can be dangerous for your health. You can calculate you BMI here: BMI Caluclator Anorexia is the
Answered by Katie Brooks
NOS - Great Beverage, Lousy Diagnosis
Hi there and thank you for your question. Please know that eating disorders occur in people of eery shape and size. Regardless of how we see ourselves (and our perceptions are often skewed by strong negative emotions) having an eating disorder is more about how we nurture our bodies and seeking cont
Answered by Jim LaPierre
My daughter gets weight loss tricks from pro anorexia websites. How worried should I be?
This is a legitimate cause for worry. You need to act. See if your daughter's school has any program in place that addresses this issue. Sometimes, schools have already put protocols in place to help girls and their families who have had this happen. Talk to the superintendent of schools or the prin
Answered by William Anderson
Anorexia criteria
Thanks for your post. I'll try my best to answer your question. Here is what a psychologist or mental health professional uses to diagnose anorexia: A. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight le
Answered by Dr. Lani Chin
Purging for Two
Dear Anonymous, Yikes. An eating disorder during pregnancy can be very serious for the mother, the baby as well as the partner (psychologically and emotionally). Eating disorders affect approximately 7 million American women each year and tend to peak during childbearing years. Pregnancy is obviousl
Answered by Rob Danzman
The Walking Dread
Dear Anonymous, You clearly are a good brother and thoughtful person. Many have been where you are and ignored their loved one so cheers to you for getting curious about your options. I've responded to each of your questions below. Unfortunately, your experience is not unique and the path is not eas
Answered by Rob Danzman
Would a 45 year old man ever get something like anorexia?
It sounds like your brother has become a health nut, but it does not sound like anorexia nervosa, self-starving by not eating healthfully. Your brother's focus is healthy eating. A health scare can precipitate big changes, like quitting smoking, drinking, red meats and processed food, as your bother
Answered by William Anderson
Too Lean in TN
J.B. We often see clients make big changes and then the family members and friends are caught off-guard. Sometimes those behavioral changes (like starting to use drugs regularly) dramatically change the person in very negative ways. Sometimes, the changes are positive for the person but the family a
Answered by Rob Danzman
Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
Hi there- I'm glad you have decided to take the step to get treatment. It sounds to me like you have an unhealthy coping skill rather than a dieting problem. It seems like a weight loss program would have worked if dieting was the issue. You do not have to have a treatment team to go to a residentia
Answered by Katie Brooks
Mother with Eating Disorder
Dear Anonymous, This definitely is a complicated situation. You have your wife's history and dignity to respect yet, at the same time, you are concerned her current behavior is impacting your daughter's development. Bare with me as I dissect this to answer your questions. Obviously, all I have to go
Answered by Rob Danzman
I feel so guilty about everything I eat. I thought I would feel happy when I got skinny but I don’t.
Have no fear. You will be OK. Even though you lost weight, you never really learned what the problem is and how to solve it. It was the same for me for 25 years. Eventually, I learned a psychological solution to the problem few people understand, lost 140 pounds 30 years ago, and I have maintained t
Answered by William Anderson
Eating Disorder?
Congratulations on your weight loss and abstinence from alcohol. I'm sure that you feel great! It sounds like you are just really excited about your new body and health status. Word of caution though... becoming "obsessed" with weight, food, and exercise can turn into an eating disorder over time. I
Answered by Katie Brooks
Is it OK to overeat and then exercise enough to work it off?
What you are describing is a form of bulimia, where a person eats too much, binges, and then "purges", ridding the body of the calories that have been overeaten. There is a high risk that it will get out of control, where one's life gets taken over by a compulsive need to binge, followed by a compul
Answered by William Anderson
My obese daughter uses her allowance to buy junk food and my mother gives it to her. What should I do?
Dear mom, Keep modeling healthy behavior and teaching healthy thinking and habits. Do not give her an allowance if she uses it for junk food. You would not give it to her if she used it for alcohol and cigarettes, would you? If your mother will not stop making junk food available, do not allow your
Answered by William Anderson
Are There Medications That Help With Eating Issues?
Here is what almost all therapists and doctors will tell you are the most effective means of controlling the issue you described. It's what our agency suggests as well: Counseling: More specifically - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This is a type of individual counseling that focuses on changing the
Answered by Rob Danzman
Common among dancers: Anorexia and general eating disorders
I would definitely keep watch over the situation. At 11 years old, we don't have the maturity to understand what these choices mean for us. Her body will change and evolve with puberty and you don't want her to try harder and harder to avoid it. There are a few things to think about in this type of
Answered by Jill Palmer
Eating Disorder or A Fad?
You do not say how long this behavior has been going on. The best way to tell if your daughter has an eating disorder is to take her to a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. Your daughter may not have an eating disorder but both of you can still benefit by seeing someone.It can’t hurt. Gl
Answered by Lita Perna
Using laxatives and throwing up to manage weight?
I do believe that using laxatives and throwing up to manage weight is damaging. I don't know how damaging it is for your son and how damaging it could be in the future. The biggest problem with this is you have no way of knowing if this will turn into a life long eating disorder or not. It is possib
Answered by Jill Palmer
Online Bulimia Programme
There is an Online Bulimia Programme --- http://www.bulimiahelp.org/bulimia-recovery-program . I have to say that I don't know anyone who has participated in this programme though. There are a lot of testimonials though. I have treated a few bulimic patients, very successfully, over the years but ob
Answered by Dr. Shirley Schaye
Self Esteem From the Inside Out
Telling someone they are smart or talented doesn’t work. All blanket statements are meaningless. And you’re right. She probably doesn’t listen to, or believe you specifically because you’re her mom. I think a realistic assessment and acceptance of her faults and flaws will be more beneficial to your
Answered by Lita Perna
Is Bulimia something that only girls get, or do boys get it too?
Boys get Bulimia, the eating disorder where a person binges and purges, just like girls do, though the disorder is more prevalent in girls, probably because of the disproportionate pressure girls have to be thin. Ten girls have it for every boy that has it. It is something that almost anyone can get
Answered by William Anderson
Bulimia and Pregnancy
I'm not a medical professional so I don't know the medical risks with bulimia while pregnant. From a counseling prospective, I would be concerned about her coping skills. Life is only going to get more stressful when her body grows and goes through the pregnancy process. How is she going to cope wit
Answered by Jill Palmer