Anorexic teen girls among us

I have noticed lately, far too many posts written by teenage girls that say "I'm a fat hog/ I binged last night/ I need to lose 30 more pounds". They sometimes don't say how much they weigh or what they consider a binge. People don't bother asking, then proceed to leave them advice about how they can lose more or not "binge" anymore. The reality is that many of these girls are like, 90 pounds and consider 100 calories a binge.

Another careless thing these girls do is list their stats; example: 5'5" 101 lbs. and then talk about how disgustingly fat they are. Uh, hello? There are people here with actual weight concerns, not just imaged/ obesseive/ neurotic. I don't mean to bash teen girls, but I wonder why this behavior is so common. This is not good, and I would say if you see a post like the ones I described, don't encourage their insanity.

I'm noticing this more and more lately.  I thought people were just being hypersensitive about it at first, but lately it seems like every other post is something about starving or having an ED or trying to lose more weight when they're already very thin.  I understand seeking help for an eating disorder, but quite frankly most of these girls don't seem to want help--just attention.  Many of them seem pretty dead set on continuing their habits, even when you try to advise them otherwise.  I agree about not encouraging them.

Thanks for this entry. It is scary and true. I am legitimately overweight and need support not to hear that someone who weighs 100 needs to lose 10 more...geez. Your post made me feel better!

I completely agree.  this is purely attention seeking behavior, as well as a violation of the coc on this site.  I want to be supportive, especially since i have had an eating disorder, but i really cant anymore. If you want help seek help, and dont get angry at people for trying to help you avoid killing yourself.  geez!!

I agree... some people really do have eating disorders and need help but A) this isn't really the place for that and B) many of them are simply attention seeking, and have no intention of doing what is suggested (assuming they are telling the truth in the first place).

I have a young teenage daughter. She's doing this herself. "I"m so fat" blah blah blah...

I actually took her to the doctor a few months ago so that (among other things) the doctor could show her right on the chart how she falls dead center of 'normal' for her height.

Fortunately, she doesn't seem obsessive about it, but when she blurts stuff like that out, it annoys me, and I'm sure her mother as well.

I think at 13 and in the midst of puberty self image is probably a weird emotional state. Myself, being a) male and b) barely able to remember being 13 years old, don't relate exactly. She does, however, seem to believe me (for how much longer will Daddy be the smartest man in the world, I wonder?) that at her age it's important to eat right and exercise appropriately.

I've been watching her to make sure she isn't doing something to damage herself, but I can see how EASY it would be for an uniformed, inattentive, or misguided parent to either miss the signs of or even encourage an eating/exercise disorder in their children.

Exactly. This site is for people trying to not be overweight in a healthy way. Maybe these girls need their own site with a tough moderator. Many of them claim to recognize that they have a problem but are obviously not sincere about getting healthy.

And you're right, Rena. They are violating the rules of this site. I am sort of disturbed at how many of these girls are getting away with these ridiculous comments/ skeletal photos of themselves.

I wrote about this today in my journal and it was only my second entry ever.  I have been reading 13 year olds here talking about starving themselves.  I very much understand being the fat kid and needing help but I can't help but think that perhaps there should be age restrictions on this site.  I too want to reach out and help these young teens but when you don't know them it is a dangerous road to go down and I really wouldn't want to be the one that the parents discovered talking to their kids.  I am  sure many of the parents don't know their daughters are posting on the site.  I am a bit surprised that the lawyers connected to this site haven't flagged it up if nothing else.

yes it is annoying, but there is really nothing that can be done..

The worst thing is that they feed off of each other.  I'm not going to name names (or user names) but I have seen certain girls proclaiming that they have eating disorders, that they are "recovering", but in reality they just feed off of each other's posts and encourage each other to starve.  I can't stand how they'll say "oh, I had five grapes for breakfast, a few salad leaves for lunch, tea for dinner--I know it seems like TONS of food, but I'm in recovery."  Aargh!

I agree that the amount of these posts that are so obviously just looking for attention are ridiculous. of course no one is going to consider a size five fat... twice. however, as one of the 'anorexic teen girls' interested in recovery/becoming healthy again/gaining weight, i can't emphasize how much these forums have helped me and how much information i've gleaned from them. luckily for me, hearing the silly, attention-ho-ing posts only reinforces my resolve that I NEVER want to be like that and/or succumb. so, just wanted to say thanks on behalf of those genuinely working on becoming healthy

I agree so much. I'm a teen but I have many friends that do this to me. They're extremely thin and are still obsessing with losing weight. I'm no light weight either, and they know I'm trying to lose weight so I guess they feel they can vent to me which I do not mind. It's just disheartening though. They all eat crap too and think that it'll help them lose weight.

Half of the problem is what the media shows in a sense though. Look at how many shows there are on television that have really thin actresses on the show, so it probably stems from there. That's what I noticed is the trend among my friends anyway.

It shouldn't be encouraged at all, but no matter what someone says they're still going to think they're not thin enough or pretty enough at the end of the day. It's madness honestly and quite sad.

For the teenage set, mental illness is cool.  It is how they get attention, it is what makes them "special."  If not an ED, they go for OCD, cutting or anger management issues.  Aren't they all so unique?

Sigh, it really is pathetic.    Seriously, I believe that true anorexia is rare.  The real problem is that these girls starve themselves so that they can get attention for being anorexic. 

In my early 20's I had a rocky period, when emotions and drama were in high gear.  I am one of those that cannot eat when upset.  I found myself at 104 lbs and so ashamed of what I looked like that I bent over backward to gain weight.  I would not wear anything form fitting for fear that somebody would notice my ribs or hipbones and think that something was wrong with me.  Now they go out of their way to show that their ribs and hipbones stick out for people to notice and when that is not enough, they get on line and practically beg to be told they are too thin. "I'm 5'8" and weigh 110 pounds and can't lose those last 10 pounds even though I only eat 500 calories a day."   

 Puh-leeze.  Either some of these people have the I.Q. of a doorknob or they know full well that they are underweight but need confirmation from strangers to feel better about themselves. 

Personally, I think if a person has self-esteem issues the best thing they can do for it is to accomplish something that they can be proud of.  Volunteer your time to a good cause.  Ace that math test.  Learn to basket weave.  Teach a little kid how to throw a curve ball.   Do something nice for somebody special.

Sheesh.

(Kay gingerly steps off of soap box and attempts to slow her respiratory rate) 

I saw something really scary--on funadvice.com, there are literally tons of posts of teenage girls asking ADVICE on "how to become anorexic"--BECOME!  As if it's some "fad" that's cool!  And the worst part was, other anorexic girls would actually give them tips!  "Oh, chew on ice.  Pick at your food so it looks like you're eating."  I kid you not.  Very disturbing.

#12 kay_h Oct 23 2007 18:07 For the teenage set, mental illness is cool.

(( woah there, be careful what you say. ))

Jellybeaner, I hate to say it, but it seems like that's true these days.  At my high school, people would try to get attention by cutting themselves and then showing off their scars, or talking about their suicide attempts.  K_h is right, IMO.

well not all teens are that way.

but i do agree those pro ana and mia sites are really scary

WELL..yeahh when i was in high school, being a cutter or pretending to be a  lesbian was cool.  Why cant we just be who we are.

 

Rena:)

I'm not saying all teens are that way.  I'm a teen, and I'm not that way.  But it's scary how a lot of them are.  And really pathetic, too.

thank goodness i'm out of highschool! all of the "cool" kids had "issues." It was also REALLY cool that they self-medicated with drugs/sex/'disorders'
ick
the people who wish that they were anorexic make me sick
i would have never wished to have a distorted relationship with food upon anyone. i, like kay, have a really hard time eating when upset. and when your parents have been involved in the process of divorcing for ten years, continually asking you for advice, you tend to be upset more often than not. now that's no excuse, and i'm learning to eat through my nausea/stress, but it's taken a while to realize what i've been unconsciously putting my body through.
teenagers are SO unique (and, being one of them, i say that with confidence). at times though, couldn't we all just use a little love and attention. that's what's so great about cc. i feel like if i ever had an issue, or was just feeling like i needed a hug, i could come on and ask for it Without having to exaggerate any problem or issue. it's a way to get my teenage attention grubbing taken care of without sinking to any sort of really "cool" and "original" extreme