Do I Suffer From Anorexia?

by Jacquelyne Joens

At present, we know most people who suffer from anorexia are female. Most people develop anorexia during their teens. There are some people who develop anorexia as adults, usually in reaction to an upsetting life event such as a divorce or trauma.

It is impossible to determine exactly how many people have anorexia because some hide or deny their symptoms and avoid treatment. Research today estimates 1 in 10 women suffer from forms of anorexia. Research also shows the number has been rising dramatically in the past thirty years.

Only a trained professional can diagnose anorexia.

The criteria for diagnosis are:

  • Fear of weight gain.
  • Body Image dissatisfaction.
  • Extremely low body weight.
  • Three consecutive missed menstrual cycles.

Here is a check list to help you determine if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

____ Do you have an intense fear of weight gain?
____ Do you feel an overwhelming need and drive to be thin?
____ Do you need to be thin to feel good about yourself?
____ Have you missed at least three consecutive menstrual cycles?
____ is your body mass index less then 18? (see formula below)

You can use this formula to calculate your body mass:

What is your height in inches? __________
Example: If you are 5 feet 2 inches your height in inches is 62.
What is your weight in pounds? __________

Plug the numbers into this formula:
{Weight in pounds ÷ Height in inches ÷ Height in inches} x 703
Example: if you are 5’2” (62 inches) and weigh 115 lbs, your body mass is:
{115 ÷ 62 ÷ 62} x 703. This equals 21, which is in the healthy range.
A body mass at 18 or below is not healthy.

Ultimately it does not really matter if you meet some or all of the diagnostic criteria for anorexia. What is important is to recognize you have a problem with your eating and your drive to be thin. Realize you want to deal with the problem in a way that moves your life forward. Acknowledge you want to try a new approach to dealing with your concerns about being too fat or not thin enough.

If you are concerned about your weight or body image, contact New Life Counseling, (515) 964-5003, for an appointment.

Next Page: What Causes Anorexia?