Eating Disorders / Question
Published: December 10, 2001
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am 13 almost 14 in September, I used to be bulimic and anorexic meaning I would starve myself for weeks and when I would eat I would throw it up. Then to make my parents happy I started eating a lot and then I would throw it up. I recently went to the hospital for my eating disorder and I now gained a lot of weight back. I used to weigh about 145 when anorexic and now I am 160 at the height of 5,9. I exercise excessively and I am a vegetarian so I eat healthy but all I am doing is gaining weight. Can you help me with this problem?
Signed: Recovering And Gaining
Dear Recovering And Gaining,
TeenHealthFX understands that the recovery period from an eating disorder can be a long, hard process. However, you need to make sure that you are eating for yourself to get better and not to please your parents. The fact that you are still exercising excessively tells us that you are not comfortable with your body and still attempting to lose weight, and it is not healthy for your body. When you begin refeeding your body by eating healthy again it will tend to gain weight, often quicker than you expected. Your body is an amazing thing; it will take the food and use it to rebuild your body to a weight at which it is most comfortable and functions best. Once you reach this "set point", your weight will level off and you will stop gaining. Keep eating a healthy, well balanced diet and try exercising only moderately like 3-4 times a week and you should see that your weight will eventually settle. Try to be patient.
In the meantime, TeenHealthFX hopes that you are still talking to someone about your eating disorder. It is important that you are seeing a therapist to help you work through your feelings about all of this. Gaining the weight back as you already know can be the hardest part. By talking through your feelings, it will help to make the process a little easier. You are doing a great job. If you do not already have a therapist and live in Northern New Jersey you can contact the Atlantic Health System's Eating Disorder Program at 908.522.5757.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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