Why is my hair falling out?
Asked by anonymous on Jul 27, 2008
in Eating Disorders
I just turned 18 and I am a large frame girl, 5’4” to 5'5”, and I weighed about 208 lb when I started dieting on July 7th. I have not weighed myself since about a week before, but have lost a lot of inches! Anyhow, my mom told me this morning that my hair is thinning. She thinks I’m starving myself but I reassured her that I’m eating healthy. I eat no more than about 20 grams of fat a day, less than 90 carbs, and my calories range from 600-800 a day. I eat a lot of egg whites and tuna. I tend to stay away from bread and cheese and I hate milk but I do enjoy soy milk. I walk the horse trail for 2 or 3 hours almost every afternoon at a comfortable slow pace. I don't feel starving but I’m really just confused as to why my hair is falling out!
Answer
Your hair is probably falling out because you are not eating enough. You may be choosing nutritious foods, but you are eating only half of the 1600 calories you need in a day. Raise your calorie intake to get enough protein and vitamins and minerals for hair growth as well as for good health. Aim for at least 35 grams of fat and 160 grams of carbohydrate a day; visit My Pyramid.gov to learn how to plan a healthy diet. By eating too little, you also raise the risk of binging, which is a common side-effect of overly-restricted diets. Read about how rigid dieting contributes to disordered eating on About.com.
So you can keep track of what you eat - which enables you to analyze your foods and receive the following:
- Health Score of your overall diet
- Warning when you approach your daily calorie limit
- Overview of the good and bad nutrients