Anorexia Nervosa or something else?

My daughter eats no more than five hundred calories a day.

She refuses to eat meals and even drinks(usually has water).

She purges sometimes mainly if she eats a meal.

She frequently hops on the scale more than a couple times a day.

She claims that she is fat- yet I found out her BMI and it's at 21.00.

So far she has lost about 8lbs.

She'll only eat certain foods that are all usually low in calorie.

She exercising every single day.

She counts the calories and fat grams in every thing she plans to eat.

Some days she doesn't eat or restricts herself to about fifty calories.

 But the thing I am confused about is she isn't underweight... yet! she's only been doing this for a couple of weeks but obviously while continuing this she will drastically drop pounds\ correct? But if she isn't at a low weight what could her disorder be? And what am I suppose to do? Will a treatment center admit her if she isn't under weight?

I'm planning on taking her to an appt very soon- just couldn't wait.

-Disclaimer. I'm not asking for you to diagnose her\ just a concerned mother who is trying to understand more about eating disorders. 

Her BMI does not classify her for Anorexia, but she DOES have an eating disorder it seems. 

It is good you are getting her help ASAP. Depending on where you live/her heart and vital stats are- no, she will not be admitted into INpatient. I am sure you will be sent to take her to some therapy, possibly a nutritionist. It is good to get this fixed as early as possible. 

I am sorry to hear of your situation, but you are a very good mother for showing such concern for your daughters health. 

This sounds like disordered eating that's on its way to becoming anorexia. One of the biggest signs of whether or not she'll develop anorexia (things'll get out of control) is if she's obsessive or seems to have OCD in other areas of her life. Just because she isn't underweight doesn't mean that it won't happen soon. You need to have a talk with her to figure out if what her long-term plans are.

A medical diagnosis for anorexia includes all of the following:

1. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected).
2. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming obese.
3. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
4. The absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (amenorrhea), in women who have had their first menstrual period but have not yet gone through menopause (postmenarcheal, premenopausal females).
5. Or other eating related disorders.

Since your daughter is not underweight yet, she could not technically be diagnosed with anorexia and would probably be considered ED-NOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). Nonetheless, she sounds to me like she is well on her way to anorexia if she continues these behaviors. She will definitely rapidly lose more weight eating/exercising that way. A treatment center may admit her, but you can also consider the route of keeping her at home and seeing a physician, nutritionist, and therapist. I'm currently in recovery from anorexia and am seeing a team of people like this regularly rather than being in inpatient treatment. Thus far, it's been very successful for me. 

Good luck & I sincerely hope that you are able to get the help your daughter needs!

Thank you!

If she wont be admitted to impatient just because she isn't under weight?

She will not eat! five hundered calories is just her limit- she never even gets to it.

the past couple of days she has been at 200\200/42/350/100/300 calories

Original Post by kane41:

She purges sometimes mainly if she eats a meal.

 

How long has this been going on?

I did not read that the first time around- but it has me worried. You can die even if you purge just once due to complications. If she is abusing laxatives she is running the risk of serious electrolyte imbalance- which can cause a heart attack EASILY, as well as in the long run give her chronic constipation, leading to dependence.

If she is vomiting, she could perforate her esophogus, leading to internal bleeding and sudden death- much less cause severe tooth errosion, as well as the elecrolyte imbalance as stated before. Get her in to see a doctor immediately. 

Original Post by kane41:

Thank you!

If she wont be admitted to impatient just because she isn't under weight?

She will not eat! five hundered calories is just her limit- she never even gets to it.

the past couple of days she has been at 200\200/42/350/100/300 calories

 

This aspect of things is quite odd though. Most anorexics would hide the low amount of calories they're consuming. Is there a reason she's telling you this?

She has been purging for at least two months. At first it was every day. Then it began to die down. she started up again after 2 weeks. But hasn't been doing it since. But she told me if she eats a meal or something fatty\ go over five hundred calories- she will immediately purge.

Original Post by kane41:

She has been purging for at least two months. At first it was every day. Then it began to die down. she started up again after 2 weeks. But hasn't been doing it since. But she told me if she eats a meal or something fatty\ go over five hundred calories- she will immediately purge.

 

Then is is full blown Bulimia. And it is very dangerous. I am not sure of the rules of where you live, but she may be admitted for Bulimia if they see it is already done a lot of damage to her system already. 

when it boils down to it- your daughter can be admitted at any weight- but you do not really want that because it is a sign she has damaged her body so badly already.

I wish you much luck, your daughter deserves a healthy and lovely life. I am almost jealous of her for having a mother who loves her as much as you do to get her help. Much luck to you, 

Luke:

Her close friend sent left me a voice mail. (Thank the lord!)

We had a very long talk and towards the end she admitted everything but says she does not have a problem. I know she has a problem. This behavior is extremely unhealthy.

She tells me her intake on calories. I could tell she was lying when she said she was beginning to go over 700 calories because her father said she'd just be in her room all day! We also caught her on pro-anorexia websites.

Not that I will allow this day to come- but if she is currently at a weight of 136 (height of five foot'8 inches) when will her BMI be too low?  Considering her behaviors and if I keep her at home and she refuses to eat even 500- do you think she will drop down to about... 120! in a month? How long should I keep her home?

doll_eyes:

Thank you- you are very kind!

Are you sure it might be bulimia because she does not over eat which I believe is called binging. She has such a fear that she'll gain any weight at all!

How do they check for damage due to purging?

Original Post by kane41:

doll_eyes:

Thank you- you are very kind!

Are you sure it might be bulimia because she does not over eat which I believe is called binging. She has such a fear that she'll gain any weight at all!

How do they check for damage due to purging?

If she is a normal weight and purges more than two or three times a month for two months- it is classify for bulimia. The way she is going sounds like my problem NOW, and I have had plain anorexia since I was 7. No life to live. 

Again, I am not sure, but they will check her heart (purging does massive damage to cardio muscle) but for the esophogas I am not entirely sure. Again, I was never hospitalized for bulimia, but I am sure if you tell them of her habits they will run many tests. 

Hm, well she could easily drop this low, but it would depend on whether or not she's exercising everyday or just sitting in her room all day. Either way, it sounds like she'll be considered anorexic before long.

Have you talked to her about why she's losing weight? Some people feel that they have vanity pounds to lose, even if they're at a healthy BMI. This is perfectly reasonable; however, it should be done with a reasonable mindset and with a healthy goal weight in mind. If she's trying to lose vanity pounds, you need to talk with her about healthy dieting (i.e. only losing a little at a slow pace).  

If she's a perfectionist (or just generally OCD about things), she may be losing weight to "gain control" of her life, which is a coping mechanism, and most closely correlated with anorexia. Before you decide that she may need to seek professional help, I think you need to figure out why this is happening, and how you can help. Either way, you should try your best to be non-confrontational and supportive.

(whoops, double post)

Thanks Luke.

She exercises every day- at least that is what she has told me.

I think it is to the point of exhaustion-which isn't safe. When she has the water running for a bath i can hear her counting lowly (i.e- 78...79..80) with heavy breathing. The next day she complains about being sore. She is weak. And lightheaded. Her body was shaking maybe three times so far. I tried to make her drink juice for her blood sugar\ and some food. But she wouldn't let me interfere and usually locks herself in her room to snack on the collection of low calorie foods she has stored up.

She's only 17 yeas old and has been diagnosed with depression for about 6 years now. She has anxiety.mood disorders.trichotillomania.has self injured (very severely) and might still do because she wears bracelets on her wrists and my husband said i should check. She has been through a lot as a teen. And has been through some traumatic events.

Thanks doll for your time!

I wish you further luck in your battle!

Original Post by Jaecrump:

So I am curious about a few things;

What is your daughters age? Current weight? Goal weight? Body frame.. Small/med/ large? What types of food is she eating? And lastly( not trying to be offensive) are you or any other member in your family overweight/ obese?

All these questions play an important factor in this situation and based on the answers given, a better assessment can be made.

Also, if your daughter is of adolescent age/preteen/ teen.. What kind of pop culture is she following( ex; celebrity figure)

Hope to offer you some valid advice!!

17\ 136. She said first she does not want to be at a healthy weight because she wants to feel weak!

She is between small and medium. I say this because her wrist are so tiny. Her knees are boney and so are her legs. The only place she doesn't not look skinny are her thighs and her chest. That is it but she is a young lady and is no where near over weight

my BMI is 23.6

My husband is 6'2 and super skinny. (He cannot gain weight because he has a fast metabolism )

She's just your everyday girl. She's not into celebs or anything. She's more into art- and pursing that.

Thank you!

Please check out somethingfishy.org -- it is a support site for those with eating disorders and their families -- it provides a wealth of information and resources available to you.

Bulemics and those with purge disorder are often NOT underweight, which is why they often don't get the help they need until it has already caused a major medical problem.

You and your daughter need resources we cannot provide here at CC -- while it's fine to gather opinions, this is a major medical problem (physical and psychological), and trying to diagnose anything over the internet would be irresponsible.

Original Post by coach_k:

Please check out somethingfishy.org -- it is a support site for those with eating disorders and their families -- it provides a wealth of information and resources available to you.

Bulemics and those with purge disorder are often NOT underweight, which is why they often don't get the help they need until it has already caused a major medical problem.

You and your daughter need resources we cannot provide here at CC -- while it's fine to gather opinions, this is a major medical problem (physical and psychological), and trying to diagnose anything over the internet would be irresponsible.

Thanks coach_k:

I am not trying to diagnose my daughter over the internet- as I have previously stated. I am concerned and gathering information and opinions and ideas which has helped. I am very aware that my daughter needs medical help. Which is what I am seeking yet in the meantime... I'm here.

Thank you for your opinion though!