Q. Will I be taken to the hospital? Will oi be forced to eat meat? (I'm vegetarian.) If my BMI is 20.2 despite dieting will I still be forced to gain weight? Please help!
A. It sounds like you have a lot going on right now; it's great that you're reaching out for help today! We are here to offer you support. Your BMI (Body Mass Index), which you stated as 20.2, is actually considered within the normal weight range. Normal range, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is 18.5-24.9. You can verify that by visiting www.hhs.gov
Just because it's categorized as "normal" doesn't mean that there isn't a problem, you appear to be very concerned with what's going on. Have you been officially diagnosed with an eating disorder? What kinds of disordered eating behaviors have you been engaging in (restriction, binge and purge, over exercising, laxative abuse ETC...)? Have you sought treatment in the past?
We encourage you to reach out for support and get professional help. This could be through your primary care physician, someone you received treatment from in the past, or through a new eating disorder specialist. We can help you find help near you by looking in our national database!
We hear your concern about being vegetarian in an eating disorder treatment facility. Usually in the initial evaluation they will ask you if you refuse to eat any food due to religion or personal beliefs. This would be the time to voice that you don't eat meat, if they know your concerns they will be able to adapt your meal plan appropriately.
The goal of treatment is to get you at an appropriate weight range for you. We encourage you to get help right away so you can talk about some of your concerns such as your feelings about if you'll be "forced to gain weight". You're doing the right thing by reaching out today. We are here to help you! If you need additional support and guidance please give us a call at the Boys Town National Hotline. We have counselors available 24/7. You can even try out our new on-line chat line, Monday-Thursday, 8pm-11pm (CST), which you can find at YourLifeYourVoice.org.
Take Care,
Aimee, Counselor
Boy Town National Hotline
1-800-448-3000
Just because it's categorized as "normal" doesn't mean that there isn't a problem, you appear to be very concerned with what's going on. Have you been officially diagnosed with an eating disorder? What kinds of disordered eating behaviors have you been engaging in (restriction, binge and purge, over exercising, laxative abuse ETC...)? Have you sought treatment in the past?
We encourage you to reach out for support and get professional help. This could be through your primary care physician, someone you received treatment from in the past, or through a new eating disorder specialist. We can help you find help near you by looking in our national database!
We hear your concern about being vegetarian in an eating disorder treatment facility. Usually in the initial evaluation they will ask you if you refuse to eat any food due to religion or personal beliefs. This would be the time to voice that you don't eat meat, if they know your concerns they will be able to adapt your meal plan appropriately.
The goal of treatment is to get you at an appropriate weight range for you. We encourage you to get help right away so you can talk about some of your concerns such as your feelings about if you'll be "forced to gain weight". You're doing the right thing by reaching out today. We are here to help you! If you need additional support and guidance please give us a call at the Boys Town National Hotline. We have counselors available 24/7. You can even try out our new on-line chat line, Monday-Thursday, 8pm-11pm (CST), which you can find at YourLifeYourVoice.org.
Take Care,
Aimee, Counselor
Boy Town National Hotline
1-800-448-3000
What messes up your metabolism worse; starving or purging?
Q. Its my understanding that they can both, temporarily, slow and confuse your metabolic rate, but I dont understand which one is less stimulating or does more damage to your bodies reaction to calories.
This has nothing to do with my personal eating habits, its research for an intervention I am planning for a friend.
This has nothing to do with my personal eating habits, its research for an intervention I am planning for a friend.
A. They are both the cause serious health problems. This fact sheet explains many of them. Hope your friend has great success in recovery. =)
Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a personâs
emotional and physical health.
⢠Eating disorders are not just a âfadâ or a âphase.â People do not just âcatchâ an eating disorder
for a period of time. They are real, complex, and devastating conditions that can have serious
consequences for health, productivity, and relationships.
⢠People struggling with an eating disorder need to seek professional help. The earlier a person
with an eating disorder seeks treatment, the greater the likelihood of physical and emotional
recovery.
Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa: In anorexia nervosaâs cycle of self-starvation,
the body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally. Thus, the body is forced to
slow down all of its processes to conserve energy, resulting in serious medical consequences:
⢠Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is
changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink
lower and lower.
⢠Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
⢠Muscle loss and weakness.
⢠Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
⢠Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
⢠Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common.
⢠Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an
effort to keep the body warm.
Health Consequences of Bulimia Nervosa: The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles of
bulimia can affect the entire digestive system and can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances
in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. Some of the health consequences
of bulimia nervosa include:
â Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and
death. Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium, sodium and
chloride from the body as a result of purging behaviors.
â Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing.
â Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting.
â Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting.
â Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
â Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.
Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder often results in
many of the same health risks associated with clinical obesity. Some of the potential health
consequences of binge eating disorder include:
â High blood pressure.
â High cholesterol levels.
â Heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels.
â Type II diabetes mellitus.
â Gallbladder disease.
Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a personâs
emotional and physical health.
⢠Eating disorders are not just a âfadâ or a âphase.â People do not just âcatchâ an eating disorder
for a period of time. They are real, complex, and devastating conditions that can have serious
consequences for health, productivity, and relationships.
⢠People struggling with an eating disorder need to seek professional help. The earlier a person
with an eating disorder seeks treatment, the greater the likelihood of physical and emotional
recovery.
Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa: In anorexia nervosaâs cycle of self-starvation,
the body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally. Thus, the body is forced to
slow down all of its processes to conserve energy, resulting in serious medical consequences:
⢠Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is
changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink
lower and lower.
⢠Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
⢠Muscle loss and weakness.
⢠Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
⢠Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
⢠Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common.
⢠Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an
effort to keep the body warm.
Health Consequences of Bulimia Nervosa: The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles of
bulimia can affect the entire digestive system and can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances
in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. Some of the health consequences
of bulimia nervosa include:
â Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and
death. Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium, sodium and
chloride from the body as a result of purging behaviors.
â Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing.
â Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting.
â Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting.
â Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
â Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.
Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder often results in
many of the same health risks associated with clinical obesity. Some of the potential health
consequences of binge eating disorder include:
â High blood pressure.
â High cholesterol levels.
â Heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels.
â Type II diabetes mellitus.
â Gallbladder disease.
Have you recovered or recovering from an eating disorder?
Q. If so, how or what aproach are you taking to recover? If you are recovered how were the begginning stages of recovery like? If you are recovering, what are some challanges you are facing now?
To give you a little bit of background, I am trying to recover from a binge-eating disorder by intutive eating and living. However, I mess-up and I feel like complete recovery is possible(for example I messed up today because I thought I ate when I wasn't hungry, but I feel guilty because I ate too much. So if I am feeling guilty, I guess I wasn't hungry). I just want to know what are or were some things that made you keep going. How long did it take you to recover? What did you do when you messed up that kept you going?
To give you a little bit of background, I am trying to recover from a binge-eating disorder by intutive eating and living. However, I mess-up and I feel like complete recovery is possible(for example I messed up today because I thought I ate when I wasn't hungry, but I feel guilty because I ate too much. So if I am feeling guilty, I guess I wasn't hungry). I just want to know what are or were some things that made you keep going. How long did it take you to recover? What did you do when you messed up that kept you going?
A. First of all give yourself a good pat on the back for first admitting to the problem and also for asking for help with recovery. I think your first step should be to find a GOOD treatment team. And if severe maybe in role yourself at least for a few weeks either into an inpatient program or a intense outpatient program. The people I recommend you have on your treatment team are: a therapist who specializes in EDs treatment (be careful though because anyone can claim they are a specialist so look at their credentials & search reputable ED sites with therapists listing); a medical doctor and possibly a nutritionist or a psychiatrist. Be patient with yourself. Recovery can take many months to many years. It is hard to stay on track with the food plan. It takes a long while of following the food plan to shift over to intuitive eating. And in some cases you might have to always be a conscious eater. The emotional part will be longest and most difficult phase of recovery. You however can only truly work on the underlying issues that cause you to Binge eat after you have stopped engaging in the behavior. I wish you luck you are in for a long ride but you can recover, these things take time.
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