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female
,
anonymous
writes: Do I have some kind of eating disorder? I'm 16 years old and I've gone down 2 dress sizes in a year. My attitude to food changed when I broke up with my boyfriend in January. I just didn't like eating and would sometimes just forget to, whereas I used to snack all the time and think about food most of the time. I was taking exams at the time, and the pressure was on so I assumed it was just stress, but just the thought of food made me feel sick. Even now that all that is over I have really wierd eating habits; I rarely eat anything more than three small meals a day, I feel full very quickly and I've got to the point where I'll only eat the food that I want to eat or am craving. People keep telling me I've lost loads of weight and I'm too skinny and that I should eat more, but I just can't. It's not that I even want to be skinny, I don't like my weight because it scares me. I don't think this comes under any of the wellknown disorders (annerexia/ bullemia etc.) so I need to know if this is just a normal change or if i'm unwell.
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 November 2006): Well - do you feel unwell? Unless you are psychopathic you know yourself if there is something wrong with you.
Agreed it's difficult to comment over the Internet, but you sound like a typical and perfectly normal 16yr old, to me.
I don't mean that in a patronising way, but you certainly do not sound like you have an eating disorder.
People of your age, girls and guys, go through a HUGE change that often lasts well in to your 20's where your psychological and physical identity is brought in to question and analysed repeatidly.
People nowadays are far too quick and keen to label themselves as having x, or y neurological psychological disorder, but these labels often do more harm than an actual disorder itself.
If any thing, you seem to have a more healthy approach to eating and food. Look at the obesity epidemic and how many people are dying and permanently impairing their health.
I suggest if you feel healthy, and you arn't underweight, then you tell your friends, and family, to keep their comments to themselvess because you do not appreciate them and they are hurting you.
Could you imagine if you were overweight and you were being told you're too fat and need to loose weight? You'd be on DearCupid writing a message wouldn't you? The same is true here. They are the problem - not you.
A
female
reader, DrPsych  +, writes (18 November 2006):
 Anorexia nervosa and bulmia nervosa are very complex disorders and it would be irresponsible to give a diagnosis online. However, you should know that many people who go onto to develop full-blown eating disorders report earlier dieting (...that escalated into something more sinister) and depressive symptoms. From what you say, you have some of these signs but depression can put you off your food too. I think you personally recognise you have a 'problem' even if there isnt a label for it at this stage. You should monitor your weight and try at least to maintain what you are at the moment...you should talk to your parents and make you sure you all have 'sit down' meals together at least once a day or at the weekends. Basically you need to develop a routine of eating properly three times a day. I work professionally with teens about your age in psychiatric care and my advice to you is to realise that your body is still developing. By restricting food you are storing up all sorts of trouble for later life - gum disease, osteoporosis (bone disease) and heart irregularities to name a few. I had a eating disorder at 21 (recovery motivated me to train as a psychologist to help others), and my glands, fertility and dental health have been seriously compromised because of it. It all started out at 19 being busy studying, having a few relationship problems and wanting to lose a bit of weight and all got out of control. If you think you have a problem then I suggest you talk to someone - a school counsellor, a GP, a teacher and get some help. Take care of yourself!
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reader, anonymous, writes (17 November 2006): You dont have anorexia- anorexia is more mental- when you are afriad of gaining weight and do everything you can not to, its an intentional disease really. Your problem just sounds like that all the emotions and stresses got to you- so through that time, you coped by not eating... but this gives your stomach a chance to shrink when you are not eating... So when you do get interested in food- your stomach doesnt. If you are worried about this- I would ask your doctor for some more information- You could have a hyper thyroid, but really it just sounds like a temporary period of stress. Simpply eat more and your stomach will adjust and so will your apetite. Just watch out for the opposite end of the scale- emotional eating... be aware of that. Hope this helps!
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