Do I Have an Eating Disorder?

Question

I am sixteen and a senior in high school. A year ago, I weighed about 111 pounds, and after I began running track and cross country, went down to the weigh of 93 pounds, where I currently am. I am 5'3" tall. Lately, my parents have become very worried about me, and have forbid me to run as often as I would like and to weigh myself. They say that I am not eating enough . . .I usually eat cereal, sandwiches, etc., but I can not always eat three meals a day. Also, I have not experienced menstruation in about six months, although I am a virgin. Would these be the symptoms of an eating disorder?

Answer 1

There are a few things you wrote that help answer your question. First, you have lost your period. Athletic women can loose their periods but it is a sign that you don't have the nutrition your body needs. You also may not be eating the right things when you do eat. You mention cereals and sandwiches. Does your family serve meals with meat and veggies? Meat and veggies offer more nutrition. You may also need more fats in your diet. You would do well to ask a nutritionist if you are eating what your body needs right now.

You also said you were told to not run so much. Deep down do you think you are running to control your weight or maybe to burn off what you have eaten? It is your thought process that has to do with eating disorders, not what you are actually eating.

If you want to run more and train your body you must also force your body to eat. Use the scale as a tool to make sure you are eating enough, not as a way to see if you are loosing weight. If you can not train your brain to think that way, you may very well have an eating disorder in the making. It starts in the way you think about the small things. You have to be careful it does not overtake you.

Answer 2

I really don't think that this is an eating disorder. If you only weighed 111 pounds before you started running then it just seems that you are naturally small. Do you have small bones? If you don't know try to touch your thumb and index finger around your wrist, if they touch then you have small bones. 93 lbs is very thin but again if you are built really small then it isn't AS bad. Even though you don't eat 3 meals a day you still eat so you aren't anorexic...and unless you throw up after everything you eat you don't have bulimia either so in that case, you don't have an eating disorder. You are short as well(don't worry, I'm 18 and I am only 5'2" and weigh 112 lbs) so you really shouldn't weigh that much. I do think that 93 lbs is too thin but if you are healthy I don't think that you should worry. A good healthy weight for you should be around 120 lbs (I am a little underweight too...but that's just because I have a really good metabolism) you may have a really fast metabolism as well...and the running really boosts it too. Try eating a little more but I really don't think that you have an eating disorder.

Also..I want to praise you on still being a virgin! I was till I was married...!

Answer 3

That doesn't sound like the symptoms of an eating disorder, but you do sound unhealthy. Anorexics are afraid of gaining weight, and therefore greatly restrict their intake of food. It doesn't sound like you are consciously keeping yourself from eating enough.
It really worries me that you have not had your period in six months. That is a sign that you have lost way too much weight, and it's very unhealthy. You most likely have some vitamin deficiencies. You should definitely see a doctor soon and talk to him about your weight loss. He should be able to help you find ways to eat more and become healthier, or refer you to a nutritionalist.

Answer 4

Well it's not an eating disorder unless you are not eating on purpose or your constently worring what you are eating and how many calories are going in etc. if you are throwing up your meals or you are compulsively eating. It does sound like you are not eating enough try to eat more and that is probably why you are not menstruating your body doesn't have enough fat. Since you run a lot you need to eat more.

Answer 5

Well it isn't anorexia possibly a bit of disordered consuming. It's no longer healthful. That's how I were in recent years. I misplaced 30 a few kilos considering that August. I would stand to lose it although however it isn't the right means.

Answer 6

You know, eatiing disorders can creep up on you without you even realizing you have one. It's ok to run as long as you eat healthy, not just snacking or picking here and there. Your body needs fuel to convert into energy. It's like a car, will it run without gasoline?

If you stopped menstruation, you probably are underweight. Have your mom or dad take you to the doctor and discuss these issues. I would really try to eat right.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Yes, you do have an eating disorder. Your parents are right to worry. You are horribly thin. 16 and a senior in HS? No wonder. Sounds like you have a lot of stress. Let your parents get you the help you need.

Answer 8

Possibly. Go to your primary care physician first, see if they have anything to say about your weight. The important thing is to just slow down. If you don't have time for eating, you're too busy. Missed periods is a symptom of being underweight, usually by 10 lbs. or more. Congrats on recognizing it, that is very important.

Answer 9

Yes it sounds like you are anorexic. You need to eat a lot more if you are going to keep up that exercize regime. Exersize is not bad but you need to balance it out with full nutrition in your body.
The realindicator is that you have stopped having your period, slow down the exersize and start to eat right - you probably need to get into therapy also - a healthey weight for you is at least 115 lbs.

Answer 10

No, you don't have an eating disorder you're just active. An eating disorder is when you have a mindset that you are fat and need to loose weight by any means. Such as starving yourself, purging, and drastically cutting your calorie intake. I can't eat three meals a day all the time because nowadays portions are so large that you really are eating two meals. Unless you find that you are fat (i.e. constantly weighing yourself, looking at your body and finding fat and thinking how you need to get rid of it immediately, considering purging/cutting a drastic amount of calories then you should worry), but by your description you by no means have an eating disorder.