BMI/Numbers/Weight Triggers - Should I be worried?

marmaladeisnice · 15-09-2008, 05:21 PM

I've been having issues with food and weight for a few years now, and last year my parent's had a serious chat with me. For a while I went back to eating normally so they didn't follow it up and make me go to the doctors or anything.. but I feel like I'm really struggling now.

The thing is no one else is worried about how I'm eating, which is kind of making me think there's not a problem. I don't know, just the fact that no one else has said anything to me if I said I thought there was a problem they'd think I'm just being dumb and an attention seeker.. especially as I do eat.

The problem I have is I'm so scared of gaining weight, which means that I do eat just not alot. I'm 5'5" and weigh 40kg (I'm 17 fyi) and well I was just wondering seeing as I don't look too thin (well not thin at all) and no one is worried about me, that I'm ok and don't need to gain any weight?

Sorry I don't really know what to say. It's just seeing as I'm not the thinnest girl I'm worried people will think I'm attention seeking and making a big deal about being a bit underweight when in my case it doesn't matter!?

Sorry this is kind of long, but also I was thinking of going to see my school nurse and ask her if I need to gain weight, but do you think she'd tell me or just tell me I'm fine at that weight seeing as I don't look underweight?

Thanks

loopylucy08 · 15-09-2008, 05:38 PM

Hun your BMI is medically underweight. You do sound as though you need to gain some weight urgently, although only a medical professional should really be giving that kind of advice.

Weight is such a sensitive issue. A lot of people may be frightened to approach the issue with you directly, in case it upsets you or because they dont know how or what to say. When I lost loads of weight, a few people commented but when I told them I was "fine and eating" they just left it alone and didnt push me any further, although after I came out of hospital several of them admitted they'd been really worried. It is a myth that all people with anorexia starve themselves completely. When I was in hospital, there were people a lot thinner and iller than me, but they still ate.

The problem with eating disorders ( and again I can't actually tell you that you have one, as Im not a doctor), is that they twist your perception of yourself so that you will never see how you truly look in the mirror. And what you think is " not looking underweight" will possibly look very different to other people. Plus the fact different clothes, and different shapes and sizes can disguise easily how we truly look from other people and ourselves. There is a common saying that you dont have to look like you have an eating disorder to have one.

I think you should definately go and see your school nurse. She may be able to give you some support and also recommend ways to help you address your issues with self image and your fears of gaining weight. Sometimes also hearing it from other people can make it sink in more.

Take care of yourself hun and let us know how it goes.
xxx