Answered questions(4)
Using laxatives and throwing up to manage weight?
My son is a very good high school wrestler trying to get a scholarship this year. His coach wants him at 160 and he is very strong and competitive at that weight but it is very hard for him to maintain it and it is probably 20 pounds less than he would be normally. He will use laxatives and make himself throw up to get to weight before weigh ins and now he is obsessed with what he eats all the time. I want to see him succeed but it is starting to feel wrong to put his body through this. Is it dangerous for him to try to stay so far below his natural weight for wrestling and how will I know if he is doing himself harm. I am worried he is becoming mentally unwell about eating.
Read answer →Bulimia and Pregnancy
My friend is 6 weeks pregnant and still binging and throwing up. She swears she is going to stop soon. She does not want to lose the baby. How dangerous is bulimia for a pregnant woman?
Read answer →Common among dancers: Anorexia and general eating disorders
My 11 year old daughter is a very competitive and talented ballerina. She is entering into puberty and she is struggling with her changing body shape. She is very concerned about gaining weight and changing her lithe shape. Her coaches seem to encourage her to stay slim. She is not fat at all but she has put herself on a 2100 calorie per day diet and she is very careful about writing down everything she eats and sticking to her limit. This may sound like a lot but she trains for 3 or 4 hours on an average day. I don’t know whether to applaud her determination or to worry about her obsession. Should I be concerned?
Read answer →When is purging serious?
I sometimes make myself throw up after a really big meal or whenever I feel like it. I don’t do it too often, probably no more than 5 or 6 times in a month. Because I don’t do it too often I want to know if I am at risk of becoming bulimic?
Read answer →