When do you technically have an eating disorder?

[cinderellagirl732]

My friend and I were texting and she told me she was worried about me because she thinks I'm "anorexic". I don't think I am. When we were talking in class, she told me, very loudly, "You could be anorexic!" So the teacher and a male student came over and lectured me about BMI and other crap like that until I asked the student to stop, and the teacher did, too. I know I'm not. I am fat, so I am trying to lose weight, but I'm not anorexic. I'm 5'5, maybe 5'6, 14 years old, almost 15, and 127lbs. I try to keep my diet under 600 calories a day, and if I go over, I try to exercise it down to at least 775 calories. I admit, a lot of times after I eat, I will try to throw it up, but I haven't been successful yet. A few people will tell me that I'm fat, but a lot of people tell me I'm "tiny". Is "tiny" the same as skinny?? I know I'm fat, though. But I would stop before it got to where I was anorexic. Does it sound like I'm anorexic?:what::confused:

[Mortal Coil]

Yes, it certainly does sound like you are exhibiting anorexic behaviors. Your caloric restriction puts you in the clinical starvation range, which means that you meet the criteria of EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.)

You say you'll stop before you become anorexic but I can tell you from personal experience with an eating disorder that it doesn't work like that. There is no "stopping" unless you get professional help.

[Desuetude]

Your weight is completely healthy for your age and height. Your eating habits however, are not. You should not be eating under 1200 calories a day, minimum. Is there anyone you could talk to, I know your teachers and friends don't seem to understand but you should really try seeing someone about this before it becomes obsessive. People die from anorexia and if you carry on like this that is what you're heading towards.

Have you read the stickies for this forum (here (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=110035), here (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=91888) and here (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=88803)). They might give you a little more information as to what anorexia is and there are some useful website links there that you might like to check out. I'm not telling you to 'snap out of it' or any of that bullshit. I know what it's like to see yourself as someone you don't like but you can't carry on like this. You can't lead the rest of your life striving to get thinner and thinner. There will come a point where you'll be passing out every day, unable to stand up because of how little you're eating. It's no way to live, life should not be completely focused around weight. You should live it to the max and do the things you want to because we only have one and you shouldn't let anyone or anything get in the way of that.

[Bcherryhillier]

I think you can asses it when you are losing weight gradually.

[anyone50]

It sounds like your about average as far as your weight but you need more than 600 calories a day especially while your body is still growing, unless you do nothing all day. what concerns me about your post is a couple points. First you say you have tried to throw up after eating and even though you say it hasn't been successful it dosen't change the fact you are trying this. The second thing is your addmission that you feel your fat which according to the numbers you gave don't indicate.

So your asking are you anorexic and the answer is proably not at the present time but you do have what most people call an eating disorder and if you stay on your current path you will certainly become anorexic. My mom had a friend from her class die last year and she was only 39 years old. The way she talked about her when they were both in High School sounds a lot like what you said in your post and even though she got help in college and was a recovering anorexic the damage was already done and damaged her heart.

I know that nothing anyone says to you in these post will change your mind about your body image and thats the nature of most eating disorders but I hope you have someone in your corner that will step in before you become anorexic