Do I have an eating disorder?

Dear a.n.,

It’s good that you’ve reached out — it takes a lot of courage to acknowledge that you’re struggling with eating concerns and by asking for help, in any form, you've taken a huge step. Although you may feel that a cycle of starving, bingeing, and purging is the only way to lose weight, these behaviors could be dangerous and have long-term consequences for your physical and mental health. With that in mind, it may be helpful to refocus your energies on establishing a healthier relationship with food and your body — and break the cycle once and for all.

First, it could help to break down why this cycle may be occurring. From a physiological perspective, your body craves nutrients after going long periods of time without eating. Meaning that, when the body is deprived of necessary fuel and nutrients, it may be increasing your hunger level until you feel ravenous; this could result in you no longer feeling in control of how much you eat. Eating balanced meals throughout the day can actually help to reduce the likelihood of bingeing for physiological reasons. Binging can also happen in response to feeling intense emotions, so becoming more aware of those feelings when you choose to skip a meal or overeat can also be helpful in changing the pattern. Cycles like the one you described can be very hard to break and these behaviors could potentially result in both short- and long-term consequences, some of which can be quite dangerous and irreversible.

A.n., you also mention that you think you might have an eating disorder. In addition to your concerns about bingeing and desire to purge, using self-starvation as a way to lose weight could also be a cause for concern. Eating disorders, and disordered eating patterns, in general, are very complex. You might benefit from talking with a health care or mental health provider, first, to determine that you’re not putting your physical health in danger, and second, to see what factors might have led you to start engaging in these behaviors in the first place. Health care providers use specific criteria to diagnose an eating disorder and they can also provide additional support and resources tailored to your needs. If you aren’t feeling ready to talk with a professional, there are other options and actions you can take to explore your feelings around your eating patterns. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) has an anonymous screening tool that can walk you through a set of questions to determine your risk for an eating disorder and link you to helpful information and resources. You may also consider checking out Go Ask Alice! Nutrition & Physical Activity and Emotional Health archives for more information on body image and eating concerns.

Hopefully you can find the information and support you need.