We’ve had a reader question come in on the subject of diet help. Let’s take a look:
Question: So I recently found out that my girlfriend (who I’ve been with for 4 months) only eats 600 calories a day or less during the school year (high school so about 8 months) and I’ve done a little research a and (even without any) I know that less than 1000 calories a day is not healthy and actually isn’t the best way to lose weight. i don’t know how much she actually weighs (never asked) but it can’t be over 150 or below 125 so theres a general range. From what I’ve read it slows your metabolism and can cause a variety of other problems. I’m not sure but I think this is a low case of anorexia which worries me a lot because I care about her a ton (we’ve been friends for over a year before we got together too). I’ve tried telling her that there are better ways and that she already looks great the way she is but she doesn’t seem to think so and she says she just can’t help but count calories and she feels awful when she exceeds her limit. Anyway I was just wondering if anyone had any more information in this subject or had some ideas of ways to show her that she doesn’t need to do this and that shes great the way she is. thanks and I hope this doesn’t sound like a rant…
Answer: as someone who has been through an eating disorder myself, i feel your pain. i went two years before i was finally hospitalized at a pretty normal weight, but still with ‘disordered eating’ and problems with food.
even this day, i count calories everyday and barely eat over 100kcal a day, but i still maintain my weight in the ‘normal’ weigh range.
even this day, i count calories everyday and barely eat over 100kcal a day, but i still maintain my weight in the ‘normal’ weigh range.
girls often do go through ‘phases’ of disordered eating, especially when there is so much pressure to be thin in the media.
all i can say is keep a close eye on her. if you really care about her, you could talk to her family, thats all i can really suggest and then take it from there….
