My teenage daughter has a very strange appetite and attitude towards food...she has a very negative body image but she isn't overweight...but she's not underweight either. This is the situation, she'll go on week-long fasts and then in one day eat so much that she'll feel sick...and then go a couple of days eating practically nothing...it's a vicious cycle...can anyone tell me what's going on?
2006-10-17 17:40:40 · 15 answers · asked by cookie 1 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
You are describing eating disorders- anorexia and binge eating. Talk to your daughter's doctor. He can talk to your daughter about healthy eating habits and exercise, and make other recommendations as to specialists, psychologists,etc.
Even though your daughter doesn't look overweight or underweight, when she does this to her body, she is destroying her muscle tissue.
YOU ARE THE PARENT. YOU MUST ACT.
2006-10-25 15:31:55 · answer #1 · answered by Insufferable Know-It-All 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
sounds like she has an eating disorder. from you you have just described, she has anorexic tendencies then binges and may purge after (that is usually the cycle). I am not about to diagnose her b/c i have never seen her but it sounds like she may have anorexia and bulimia.
having a negative body image really has nothing to do w/what you look like and how much you weigh. In addition, her weight has nothing to do w/ how serious her illness is. She may be going down hill and her body is not getting the nutrients it needs. If she is binging and purging her body will, instead of taking what is needed and expelling what it does not, absorbe everything and therefore may keep her at a normal weight. What may be happening internally is differnt. B/c of the lack of nutrients her organs may be impaired. This can be deadly. People with the condition you are describing can die or heart attack of stroke.
Being angry at your daughter and forcing her to eat is not the answer. You need to take her to an eating disorder clinic and have her assesed. If she does not need to be hospitalized (sounds like she doesn't) then she needs to start therapy immidiatly. You can also take step to help her and go to a parent and family group for people w/eating disorders. and/or you and the other family members can see another therapist to help you better understand and help your daughter.
2006-10-18 02:44:28 · answer #2 · answered by chill'n 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should try to make sure she doesn't take any more week-long fasts or anything like that. Just because she isn't underweight doesn't necessarily mean that she isn't suffering from an eating disorder. I would take her to a doctor as soon as possible and have her meet regularly with a nutritionist. Keep a close eye on your daughter & make sure she's eating three balanced meals a day.
2006-10-18 00:44:07 · answer #3 · answered by Just another nickname 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It does sound like very disordered eating, possibly even bulemia. Bulemics often don't lose much weight, as they are constantly in a cycle of binging and then purging or starving. Does she admit she has a problem? You need to take her to see a doctor, who can recommend her to a specialist. You should not have to deal with this alone, there is support out there. Here are a couple of helpful websites below. HTH : )
2006-10-18 00:50:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
a lot of people dont realize that anorexia(starving the self) and bulemia(binging and purging food) can co exist rolled into one. I used to suffer from something similar when I was 14 and 15. then I suffered from severe anorexia when i was 19. but I didnt get terribly thin which can be a misconception about anorexics or bulemics. People do this when they feel they have no control over their life or are under a lot of pressure to achieve or be perfect. Many issues could be surrounding her behavior. You are going to have to bite the bullet and contact a psychiatrist and a physician about this matter so they can tell you and help you with the steps you need to take to get to the root of it and fix it. do not delay in doing so .
2006-10-18 00:52:13 · answer #5 · answered by precious z 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like your daughter has Bulemia, a common eating disorder, especially amongst teens. With Bulemia there is a cycle of fasting and gorging, which sounds like what your daughter is doing. I would say that you should first sit down with your daughter and have a real heart to heart, tell her how concerned you are and that you are there for her. Then together the two of you can talk to her Pediatrition, whom I'm sure can refer you to a Specialist in eating disorders, where she can get the help she needs. Please don't wait , talk to her today, she has a lifetime ahead of her and I'm sure you want her to be happy and healthy.
2006-10-18 00:53:17 · answer #6 · answered by LofanNui 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She might be an EDNO (eating disorder not other specified ). I have the same problem as her and I just gained a bunch of weight since July from binge eating and now I have to lose it back. I have been anorexic and bulimic... before the binging, I purged whenever I binged. But I got tired to purging.
So, yeah... I dunno but it is hard. I need to lose weight because double 0s used to fit me and now I am an 8 and I hate it!
2006-10-18 01:30:03 · answer #7 · answered by Sarah* 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like she is depressed to me she wants to be skinny but, then she starves herself and when she has to eat it makes her sick she needs a steady diet and you are her mother you should make sure she eats even if it is a simple protein shake in the morning start her off slow she needs to know she is loved and that all food does not make you fat... If she keeps this up she will become anorexic or bulimic she needs help now not later. If you have to take her to a psychiatrist
2006-10-18 00:45:12 · answer #8 · answered by gipsey3 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My sister had weird eating habits. He daddy put a bunch of crap in her head about fat girls. She was skinny (size 2) but would gorge sometimes. Later she had a nervous breakdown. You need to get you doctor in on helping her! She could have a chemical imballence. Everyone in my family is on welbutrin or something like it and doing much better!
2006-10-18 00:45:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
well ,ur daughter require a balanced diet.
he should not go on fast for a long time.
it would effect her studies as well as her mind setup will be disturbed.
u should talk to her alone and understand a problem
2006-10-18 00:52:56 · answer #10 · answered by cooldude_saur 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋