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Eating Disorders

Obsessional Disorder

Answered by Dr. Shirley Schaye, PhD F.I.P.A.

Question

Can I have an eating disorder even if I am not very skinny or very fat? I am 5 foot 4 inches tall and I weigh 120 pounds. I am very fit but I also pig out eat and then exercise like crazy to make up for all the food I will eat in a pig out session. I do this a few times a week and I exercise for hours every day to stay skinny. No one knows about my pig outs and everyone else thinks I am a very healthy person. I feel like my eating and working out is taking over my life but even when I try to stop myself I can not.

I know you asked this question on May 7th., but I have been out of the country until this AM so that's why the delay.

So my answer to you is yes, you have an eating disorder. Or maybe it would be better for me to say --- does it really matter what we call it if you are plagued by your obsession over pigging out and then obsessively working out. So whatever you may want to call it I think it would help for you to see someone so that you don't spend your life obsessing about your weight the way you do.

If you tell me your city, state and zip code, I will help you find someone who can work with you about this.

 Dr. Shirley Schaye

About the Expert

Dr. Shirley Schaye

PhD F.I.P.A.

New York, United States of America

Specialties

Anger Management, Child or Adolescent Issues, Divorce, Compulsive Disorders, OCD, Other, Anxiety or Fears, ADHD, Finding Your Purpose in Life, Gay Lesbian Issues, Child Assessments, Parenting, Women, Sex Therapy, Loss or Grief, Infertility or Adoption, Dissociative Disorders, Life Coaching, Trauma and PTSD, Personality Disorders, Relationship Issues, Eating Disorders, Depression

License

my_license #00065-1

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