Question: Why is occasional purging considered such an unhealthy practice? If you eat more than your body needs you can either let it turn into unhealthy fat or just get it out of your body in 2 seconds. I get it that if you are bingeing first on purpose and then purging that is really unhealthy but is it really so dangerous if you just do it occasionally, like once a month or less, after you eat or drink too much? Hysteria aside and scare mongering aside, how much damage is this really going to do to me? By the way, I have stayed at a healthy weight for my whole adult life and I have purged probably 100 times since I was 15. I am 26, a university graduate without any major issues. I do not lose control.

Jim LaPierre Says...:

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 answer your question, you're doing a minor amount of damage to your G.I. system, esophagus, and teeth every time you purge. Once a month is something you have control over as you say and I concede that you may very well have it in check. Two thoughts - every person I've ever served who developed an addiction believed at many points that they had control...until they didn't. Secondly, if you were truly comfortable with this, I don't know why you'd rationalize it by explaining that it's ok to purge excess from your body. I wish you well.

Question: People don’t understand why I try to lose weight. They say I look healthy and good but when I look in the mirror naked I still see a lot of fat around my stomach and thighs. If I still have extra fat than I can’t be underweight. I want to look good and if I eat too much I make sure to balance that out with exercise. I am diagnosed with EDNOS. It don’t understand how I can have an eating disorder if I am stable at a healthy weight.

Jim LaPierre Says...:

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 control in a very unhealthy manner.

I cringe whenever I see a diagnosis of NOS - Not Otherwise Specified. What NOS often means in reality is "we're not sure." I encourage you to look less in the mirror and more at your life. What's working? What isn't? What do you need beyond your desire to lose a few more pounds?

Please seek feedback from loved ones - people that you trust and know to be healthy. Relying on your own perception may be problematic at this point. Please consider respected sources on what caloric intake is considered healthy. Then step back and ask yourself why that number on the scale is so important?

For far too many of us, when we look in the mirror all we see are faults. Please consider the whole person and ask yourself how can I be healthier? Good luck to you.