Can you be anorexic and not underwight?
930422
NO!\nThis is a common misconception, but in order to be classified as anorexic, you MUST be underweight.\nAnorexia is different from just self-starvation, and in order to be clinically diagnosed with anorexia, you MUST have the following symptoms.\n-low body weight (less than 85 percent of normal weight for height and age)\n-a distorted body image\n-an intense fear of gaining weight.\n\nIf you don't have all of those, then it is NOT anorexia nervosa.\nThere are other conditions that are commonly misinterpreted and referred to as anorexia, but these are not technically anorexia without the above symptoms.\nHopefully that cleared it up for you!
313453
There is a mental state that anorexics work themselves into.  So before you "weigh 80 pounds soaking wet"  there is an issue there that you are recognizing and wanting to address- and that's great!  If your mindset is, "I'm such a piece of **** that I don't deserve to eat," or "No one will love me unless I'm perfect," or "I need to control something in my life because everything else is so out of control," then these are attitudes that need to be fixed- pronto! You are fearfully and wonderfully made, you are loved by God, you have not been forgotten and the Word says that "You are the apple of His eye" (psalm 17:8) and Psalm 45:11 says the king is ENTHRALLED by your beauty..."  I got through my problems through God's grace, and you can too.  Email me or IM me if you need to talk more.
752102
Most anorexics do not stop eating altogether, but place extreme limits on the caloric intake. When they do eat, they often make choices that provide maximum nutrition for minimal fat and calories. For that reason you will not see an anorexic with a bag of chips and a sugary soda, but you will see them slowly pick at oranges, apples or a low fat yogourt. In the end, they are receiving nutrients but not fat and calories.
860050
Yes.  Anorexia is a mental illness, not a physical one.  However the symptoms show itself physically in the weight loss of the patient.  The true horror lies in the hell the patients put themselves through.  You never lose the fat cells except through liposuction, so at anytime someone starts eating, the fat cells are free to expand and multiply again.
838254
Anorexia doesn't happen to normal well-rounded people.  It usually happens to girls between the ages of 16 and 18.  It stems from self-hatred and believe it or not, it's a control issue.  The person loathes themselves for being fat or unloved by others and they feel like they have no control over things in their lives.  I had anorexia when I was between 16 and 18.  I hardly ate anything for 2 years!  I hated myself because I had a terrible alcoholic father that resented having us kids because he couldn't take all his money and gamble with it.  He had to support us.  I think it was my way of getting back at him and being liked by my peers all at the same time.  Don't be afraid to diet.  If you have normal feelings about yourself and have some control in your life, you'll be fine.
798822
You don't give any info about yourself. If you're asking "should I become an anorexic?" , the answer is NO!  It is a slow suicide.
265650
I'm 15. I think that I may have been struggling a little with an eating disorder over the past 3/4 of a year.  I never weighed little enough to be formally diagnosed with anorexia but came within one or two pounds. I've regained some of the weight that I lost but still struggle with body image problems.\nI know a lot of girls at my school who are trying to lose weight and try out the new diet fads, but they aren't successful and don't stick to them, and I don't think they really have eating disorders.
713727
i am no longer anorexic...however, i remember some of my thoughts then...and can explain some w/ the help of my doctors, therapists, etc...\n\nfirst off...i had started off, starving myself, thinking i was fat, and then, when i got down to the weight i wanted i couldnt eat...starving myself was like an addiction....\nbut then, i never thought per se i was fat, just...not skinny as displayed by society and such....\n\nwhen i saw another anorexic person, i was told she was anorexic, and took a good look at her....she was the same size of me....\n\ntwo days after seeing her, i saw she had died from dehydration and starvation....i didn't want to die...i wanted to be thin....so i went to the doctor for a diet pill....then was hospitalized...and now i'm weighing about 100 pounds again...and looking good :)
758573
my daughter is 40 and she looks anorexic BUT it is a family trait  She never stops from morning to night and burns everything she eats and then some\n she is happy healthy superactive taking care of teenagers, she eats like a horse and has been unsuccessfully tyring to gain weight all her life. You are as God made you \n there is no such thing as underweight if it is genetic. the thing is she could eat and drink fatty rubbish to put weight on but she eats good non fattening food so that she can function properly and keep her energy levels up , if you have loads of energy then there is nothing you need to do about weight. but if you are lethargic and dull then you are underweight and need more food to provide energy. If you feel well then you are well
50949
Ask yourself these questions:\n1. Are you exercising constantly?\n2. Do you weigh yourself every day?\n3. Are you refusing to eat?\n4. Do you see yourself as fat when you look in the mirror?\n\nIf you answer yes to all 4 questions, then you might be anorexic and need to get the help of a therapist.  Anorexia nervosa is a nasty condition.  If you do get it, you will have it for the rest of your life.  You can get it under control but it will always be with you and can creep up at any time.  You will have to learn how to get and keep it under control at all times.  Food is not your enemy.
391325
I lived with anorexia for years. Every time I looked in the mirror all I saw was what I hated about myself. I saw fat and ugly. Part of my therapy was to look in the mirror naked everyday and say ten nice things about myself out loud, so that I was louder than the inner critic. I now look in the mirror naked everyday just for fun. I thought about listing my ten best features, but I was afraid somebody might be offended. It is a naked run down of my body after all. ;-)
872686
Not everyone dies from anorexia. Some people get better eat well and gain weight back only to relapse years later.My mother was anorexic years before I was born when she was young and she was very sick but after treatment she gained weight again. When I was a kid she relapsed and again stopped eating. I think anorexia can return at any time as you are never really 'cured' its always there, a constant battle. My mother is now 59 and she is still paranoid about what and when she eats, I'm always nagging her to eat better, to stay healthy. Most can eat enough to stay alive but still be slim although the long term damage caused by lack of proper nutrition is not good.\nMaybe your friends sister is bulimic if she's recently lost alot of weight and was a compulsive overeater? Bulimics and anorexics have the same goal (to lose weight) but bulimics eat then throw up where anorexics just don't eat much if anything at all.
1061437
... why are people seriously giving you tips on losing weight? even if it is through healthy means, you don't need tips on losing weight.\n\nand the fact that you were anorexic isn't even the main reason that i say that.. i say that because you are a perfect weight for your height and DO NOT need to lose weight!
301473
i like a bit curvey.  My ex was too skinny i did not like it.  I dont understand anorexics(DONT KNOW HOW TO SPELL) They would look much nicer naturally.
732266
Anyone with a BMI less than 18 is underweight.  Hope that answers your question.
75528
sweetheart there are a lot of them out there, but for your own sake don't go looking. Most anorexic or bulemic people would tell you that they hate being that way and would give anything to just be able to eat normally and not freak out over an extra pound or two. Please, for the sake of your life and the ones who love you, see about getting some help on this. You are not alone and it is nothing to be ashamed of, but dont encourage it in yourself!
895317
no she's not overweight. tell her that's her correct weight, so don't stress about it in-less she wants to be anorexic. my little sister has the same weight, and she's 12.