Are The People On Here more Susceptible To Eating Disorders?
deevatude
Posts: 322 Member
I realized how easy it was to develop an eating disorder after being on this weight loss journey for so long.
heres on example, i started out on eating 1200 calories, i hit a plateau for about 3 months. so i tried to eat less and increase the workouts but that didnt work. When i asked for advice on here on what to do, i was told to eat more food. Increasing calories completely terrified me because i feared i would gain weight by eating 1600 calories. so i stayed eating 1200 calories, working out extra hard and not eating any exercise calories back for another month.
another example is, theres this feeling that most of the people on here who have been overweight their whole life go through. Once you lose weight, no matter how small you are, you always feel that you look/are "fat".
Then there are those people who will argue til death that eating 900 calories is perfectly fine. Once someone mentions that eating too few calories isnt so good for you, theres quite a number of people that will scream and shout with personal experiences, "evidence" and rebuttals to everything on why theres nothing wrong with eating 900 calories a day. That discussion makes people angry for some reason
Im just asking if anyone has noticed how easy it is to develop a form of an ED, going through a weight loss journey?
heres on example, i started out on eating 1200 calories, i hit a plateau for about 3 months. so i tried to eat less and increase the workouts but that didnt work. When i asked for advice on here on what to do, i was told to eat more food. Increasing calories completely terrified me because i feared i would gain weight by eating 1600 calories. so i stayed eating 1200 calories, working out extra hard and not eating any exercise calories back for another month.
another example is, theres this feeling that most of the people on here who have been overweight their whole life go through. Once you lose weight, no matter how small you are, you always feel that you look/are "fat".
Then there are those people who will argue til death that eating 900 calories is perfectly fine. Once someone mentions that eating too few calories isnt so good for you, theres quite a number of people that will scream and shout with personal experiences, "evidence" and rebuttals to everything on why theres nothing wrong with eating 900 calories a day. That discussion makes people angry for some reason
Im just asking if anyone has noticed how easy it is to develop a form of an ED, going through a weight loss journey?
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Replies
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The fitness world in general is a breeding ground for obsessive behavior.
I think part of the reason is that more attention to detail yields better results, up to a certain point. It's often difficult to know where to draw the line between consistently doing the things that matter and obsessing over details that don't.0 -
sometimes ill crave a giant wendys burger for 3 days before i eat it because ive been trying to get abs the last 3 months and can never bring myself to eat crappy even though i know 1 wont destroy me...its mental0
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The fitness world in general is a breeding ground for obsessive behavior.
I think part of the reason is that more attention to detail yields better results, up to a certain point. It's often difficult to know where to draw the line between consistently doing the things that matter and obsessing over details that don't.
/endthread0 -
Given how often threads end up with a reveal by the OP that they're recovering from an eating disorder, I'm beginning to wonder if there are many on MFP that *aren't* dealing with an ED.0
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Absolutely honestly use a height to weight chart to know what your ideal weight is some people just keep looking in the mirror and saying hmm I think I could survive losing a bit more
I've been watching a show called super size vs super skinny and it's so easy to get an eating disorder the way the people on that show think is very similar to many people I know0 -
Not at all. Hell, this site squawks a warning that you and your entire family will be killed if you log less than 1200 calories a day. Furthermore, it adds calories for exercise. It also comes complete with a (mostly) helpful forum full of people preaching eating correctly.
I would say that people who just try to lose weight on their own with no information tend to eat way too little and they think that starving themselves is the only way. That or they invent or follow crazy harebrained fad diets that are always destined for failure. Easy ways of developing eating disorders.
This site, however, promotes nutrition information/knowledge and fitness together. It only takes a little bit of knowledge to diet in a safe and healthy manner.0 -
Im just asking if anyone has noticed how easy it is to develop a form of an ED, going through a weight loss journey?
I think that's just people in general. Anyone who stuffs their face every day to the point that they develop diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. have an equally dangerous eating disorder. That accounts for about 2/3 of the people in the United States. Some eat too little, most eat too much. Find the place in the middle and you'll be healthy. Food isn't evil, food isn't a mood suppressor. Food is energy to do fun stuff.0 -
There are some people who are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder (which I like to consider a very specific flavor of obsessive-compulsive disorder) than others. I'd say we're all at least a little obsessive here, as you almost have to be if counting calories is going to work for you, but there are definitely some of us who are more anxious than others and who are thus more at risk of going down that road. I'm not sure data exist to say definitively whether more people with that predisposition tend to use calorie-tracking apps and sites like this, but I wouldn't be surprised if that particular flavor of anxiety were overrepresented in our sample here.0
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I'd also like to mention it's not completely calorie relevant to when you're not eating enough as long as you're eating every 4 - 6 hours more than 150 calories and your goal is still to lose weight then you shouldn't be doing any damage to your body because it's not being sent into starvation mode or lack of nutrients
if you're not trying to lose weight you should absolutely be eating more than 2,000 calories a day0 -
I realized how easy it was to develop an eating disorder after being on this weight loss journey for so long.
heres on example, i started out on eating 1200 calories, i hit a plateau for about 3 months. so i tried to eat less and increase the workouts but that didnt work. When i asked for advice on here on what to do, i was told to eat more food. Increasing calories completely terrified me because i feared i would gain weight by eating 1600 calories. so i stayed eating 1200 calories, working out extra hard and not eating any exercise calories back for another month.
another example is, theres this feeling that most of the people on here who have been overweight their whole life go through. Once you lose weight, no matter how small you are, you always feel that you look/are "fat".
Then there are those people who will argue til death that eating 900 calories is perfectly fine. Once someone mentions that eating too few calories isnt so good for you, theres quite a number of people that will scream and shout with personal experiences, "evidence" and rebuttals to everything on why theres nothing wrong with eating 900 calories a day. That discussion makes people angry for some reason
Im just asking if anyone has noticed how easy it is to develop a form of an ED, going through a weight loss journey?
According to what you wrote...you have not been on a weight loss journey...((Apparently...you have been treading water in the same place for more than a year))...So why would you feel the need to worry about whether or not "OTHER "people were the victims of "eating disorders"...If all that you wrote is true about your very low caloric intake with no weight loss..then you need to see a doctor about your eating disorder.0 -
I would venture to guess a large percentage battle some kind of ED. I battle it. Probably why we are on a fitness sight because we want to learn how to have a normal relationship with food, hopefully.0
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There are some people who are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder (which I like to consider a very specific flavor of obsessive-compulsive disorder) than others. I'd say we're all at least a little obsessive here, as you almost have to be if counting calories is going to work for you, but there are definitely some of us who are more anxious than others and who are thus more at risk of going down that road. I'm not sure data exist to say definitively whether more people with that predisposition tend to use calorie-tracking apps and sites like this, but I wouldn't be surprised if that particular flavor of anxiety were overrepresented in our sample here.
Yes, yes, yes!!! I had to take a break at the beginning of the year because I had dropped my weight too low. Prior to MFP, I never paid any attention to calorie counting (I just ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full), but it became obsessive and I got down to about an 18.9% BMI. I put some weight on and have really tried to not let it get to that point again...I have General Anxiety Disorder and a mild form of OCD, so weighing food, and counting my calories down to the decimal point took over my life...for awhile
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Honestly, I've only been on these forums for a few weeks. But I've learned more in that time about diet, nutrition and exercise from people on this site, than I have in my entire life trying to figure it all out on my own.
Sometimes, people give contradicting advice, but I didn't know about or understand basal metabolic rate or total daily energy expenditure before I got on here. I didn't understand macro-nutrients at all, sometimes they still confuse me. But I'm learning, and knowledge is power.
So I don't think people on here are more susceptible to eating disorders. People with ED might be on here, but there are a lot of people learning how to lose weight. Or people that are healthy and just use MFP to track what they are doing.0 -
There are some people who are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder (which I like to consider a very specific flavor of obsessive-compulsive disorder) than others. I'd say we're all at least a little obsessive here, as you almost have to be if counting calories is going to work for you, but there are definitely some of us who are more anxious than others and who are thus more at risk of going down that road. I'm not sure data exist to say definitively whether more people with that predisposition tend to use calorie-tracking apps and sites like this, but I wouldn't be surprised if that particular flavor of anxiety were overrepresented in our sample here.
Yes, yes, yes!!! I had to take a break at the beginning of the year because I had dropped my weight too low. Prior to MFP, I never paid any attention to calorie counting (I just ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full), but it became obsessive and I got down to about an 18.9% BMI. I put some weight on and have really tried to not let it get to that point again...I have General Anxiety Disorder and a mild form of OCD, so weighing food, and counting my calories down to the decimal point took over my life...for awhile
If you are currently in here trying to lose another 19lbs...This site did not make you obsessive...YOU HAVE BEEN OBSESSIVE ALL ALONG.(get help).0 -
There are some people who are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder (which I like to consider a very specific flavor of obsessive-compulsive disorder) than others. I'd say we're all at least a little obsessive here, as you almost have to be if counting calories is going to work for you, but there are definitely some of us who are more anxious than others and who are thus more at risk of going down that road. I'm not sure data exist to say definitively whether more people with that predisposition tend to use calorie-tracking apps and sites like this, but I wouldn't be surprised if that particular flavor of anxiety were overrepresented in our sample here.
Yes, yes, yes!!! I had to take a break at the beginning of the year because I had dropped my weight too low. Prior to MFP, I never paid any attention to calorie counting (I just ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full), but it became obsessive and I got down to about an 18.9% BMI. I put some weight on and have really tried to not let it get to that point again...I have General Anxiety Disorder and a mild form of OCD, so weighing food, and counting my calories down to the decimal point took over my life...for awhile
If you are currently in here trying to lose another 19lbs...This site did not make you obsessive...YOU HAVE BEEN OBSESSIVE ALL ALONG.(get help).
I'm on MFP alternating between gaining 10-15 pounds and losing 10-15 pounds. Should I get help too?0 -
I'm on MFP trying (and succeeding) to either gain 10-15 pounds or lose 10-15 pounds. Should I get help too?
If you can't decide whether you are trying to gain weight or lose weight...Then absolutely...you should seek help too.0 -
No i wouldn't say it's easy to develop an ed when your on a weight loss journey. I think people mistake self control and motivation for obsession these days. If you are devoted to eating well and being a regular at the gym you can be branded obsessed by people who are not so interested in their own health. It may look obsessive to an outsider perhaps, but I think there's a huge distinction between this type of behaviour and an e.d. Do you literally mean a full blown case of anorexia/bulimia or just being very regimented when following a low cal diet?0
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There are some people who are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder (which I like to consider a very specific flavor of obsessive-compulsive disorder) than others. I'd say we're all at least a little obsessive here, as you almost have to be if counting calories is going to work for you, but there are definitely some of us who are more anxious than others and who are thus more at risk of going down that road. I'm not sure data exist to say definitively whether more people with that predisposition tend to use calorie-tracking apps and sites like this, but I wouldn't be surprised if that particular flavor of anxiety were overrepresented in our sample here.
Yes, yes, yes!!! I had to take a break at the beginning of the year because I had dropped my weight too low. Prior to MFP, I never paid any attention to calorie counting (I just ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full), but it became obsessive and I got down to about an 18.9% BMI. I put some weight on and have really tried to not let it get to that point again...I have General Anxiety Disorder and a mild form of OCD, so weighing food, and counting my calories down to the decimal point took over my life...for awhile
If you are currently in here trying to lose another 19lbs...This site did not make you obsessive...YOU HAVE BEEN OBSESSIVE ALL ALONG.(get help).
Actually I like to stay between 130-140lbs, I just haven't gotten around to changing my MFP goals (I'm lazy). I honestly don't even get on a scale anymore, I'm here for fitness and feeding my (yes, I'll say it) obsession with nutrition and health. I've had plenty of help though, but thank you for your concern.0 -
:flowerforyou:There are some people who are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder (which I like to consider a very specific flavor of obsessive-compulsive disorder) than others. I'd say we're all at least a little obsessive here, as you almost have to be if counting calories is going to work for you, but there are definitely some of us who are more anxious than others and who are thus more at risk of going down that road. I'm not sure data exist to say definitively whether more people with that predisposition tend to use calorie-tracking apps and sites like this, but I wouldn't be surprised if that particular flavor of anxiety were overrepresented in our sample here.
Yes, yes, yes!!! I had to take a break at the beginning of the year because I had dropped my weight too low. Prior to MFP, I never paid any attention to calorie counting (I just ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full), but it became obsessive and I got down to about an 18.9% BMI. I put some weight on and have really tried to not let it get to that point again...I have General Anxiety Disorder and a mild form of OCD, so weighing food, and counting my calories down to the decimal point took over my life...for awhile
If you are currently in here trying to lose another 19lbs...This site did not make you obsessive...YOU HAVE BEEN OBSESSIVE ALL ALONG.(get help).
I'm on MFP alternating between gaining 10-15 pounds and losing 10-15 pounds. Should I get help too?0 -
There are some people who are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder (which I like to consider a very specific flavor of obsessive-compulsive disorder) than others. I'd say we're all at least a little obsessive here, as you almost have to be if counting calories is going to work for you, but there are definitely some of us who are more anxious than others and who are thus more at risk of going down that road. I'm not sure data exist to say definitively whether more people with that predisposition tend to use calorie-tracking apps and sites like this, but I wouldn't be surprised if that particular flavor of anxiety were overrepresented in our sample here.
Yes, yes, yes!!! I had to take a break at the beginning of the year because I had dropped my weight too low. Prior to MFP, I never paid any attention to calorie counting (I just ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full), but it became obsessive and I got down to about an 18.9% BMI. I put some weight on and have really tried to not let it get to that point again...I have General Anxiety Disorder and a mild form of OCD, so weighing food, and counting my calories down to the decimal point took over my life...for awhile
If you are currently in here trying to lose another 19lbs...This site did not make you obsessive...YOU HAVE BEEN OBSESSIVE ALL ALONG.(get help).
And, if you notice I did state that I have OCD (and have since I was a young child) 0 -
I know I am very much susceptible to eating disorders.
The only way I have ever lost weight is from a 4 month binge on cocaine, in which i lost over 120 lbs...
Been bulimic for over 19 years, until last year...0 -
Perhaps but I don't think there is a lot of legitimate clinical eating disorders on here.
I think a lot of the reasoning behind the type of disordered eating you see here is ignorance. Not trying to be offensive. But many people aren't aware of what it takes for a body to function and be able to build muscle, not lose too much lean mass etc while also dieting. Or of the harmful effects of the "ABC" diet or others like it and how counter productive low calorie diets truly are.
I am recovered from Anorexia, and it was never a diet for me. It was much more psychological then the desire for a thigh gap or hip bones, which is the kind of "Pro Ana" attitude you see around here.0 -
I'd also like to mention it's not completely calorie relevant to when you're not eating enough as long as you're eating every 4 - 6 hours more than 150 calories and your goal is still to lose weight then you shouldn't be doing any damage to your body because it's not being sent into starvation mode or lack of nutrients
if you're not trying to lose weight you should absolutely be eating more than 2,000 calories a day
Not exactly true - if I eat 2,000 calories a day I will blow up again. I have to eat 1,600 to maintain my current weight, which is sad... I can easily eat 3,000 and ask for more!0 -
I'd also like to mention it's not completely calorie relevant to when you're not eating enough as long as you're eating every 4 - 6 hours more than 150 calories and your goal is still to lose weight then you shouldn't be doing any damage to your body because it's not being sent into starvation mode or lack of nutrients
if you're not trying to lose weight you should absolutely be eating more than 2,000 calories a day
Huh?0 -
But, it also seems like people on here develop a paranoia of eating disorders and hurl around accusations. I'm not talking about when people try to help someone that actually under eats. As others said, people that binge eat have an eating disorder already (binge eating), so could they swing to another eating disorder, absolutely. The hope is that people will have a healthy relationship with food or whatever else they use to numb their feelings. But, I don't think paranoia is healthy either.0
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I think it's more likely that people with eating disorders would be drawn to MFP than MFP making anyone more susceptible.
Eating disorders are often about feeling out of control in other aspects of your life, and being able to control your food intake. MFP not only allows you to control your intake, but to micro-effing-manage it.
(Edited because "macro-effing-manage" was an interesting freudian slip!)0 -
I have an active EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) and my friends on here can tell you that I have my good days and I have my awful days.
I'll go through periods on here where I restrict like crazy and eat less than 600kcal a day for quite some time, and then I will have other times where I have crazy binge sessions and eat around 3000kcal+ in one day.
However, being on here has not powered that or strengthened those problems. I lost weight healthily last year through using this site and the encouragement of everyone on here. That same encouragement keeps me strong during my bad times and makes me want to keep trying during my good times.0 -
Perhaps but I don't think there is a lot of legitimate clinical eating disorders on here.
I think a lot of the reasoning behind the type of disordered eating you see here is ignorance. Not trying to be offensive. But many people aren't aware of what it takes for a body to function and be able to build muscle, not lose too much lean mass etc while also dieting. Or of the harmful effects of the "ABC" diet or others like it and how counter productive low calorie diets truly are.
This totally, there's a lot of people on here that are stupidly blind to anything other than eating extremely low cal. They think this is the only way to lose weight. It seems to breed obsession unfortunately.0 -
I'd also like to mention it's not completely calorie relevant to when you're not eating enough as long as you're eating every 4 - 6 hours more than 150 calories and your goal is still to lose weight then you shouldn't be doing any damage to your body because it's not being sent into starvation mode or lack of nutrients
if you're not trying to lose weight you should absolutely be eating more than 2,000 calories a day
/thread... apparently the nutritionalists and dietetic associations recommendation that got everyone fat in first place ha infiltrated us...
Body doesn't digest food in 4-6hrs... can take up to 72hrs to fully digest all the food. So only risk starvation mode after 72hrs no eating.
Also 2000 calories or more? Why? Does it ever occur to you some people are short.. like REALLY short and do not require the same as you tall giants?
Te problem is everyone is lumped into one group here no one is individually given attention to what they do, their height, weight, diet habits, genetics etc.
So no, first off 2000 might be too little, and might be too much. No one can tell anyone that without countless tests. And considering we are a living organism, the test results also can be affected day by day.
However for god sakes will people stop saying you will go into starvation mode if you do not eat every few hours... I mean what is the point of having a stomach and digestive tract if you never gave the body to actually fully digest the food...
Your body has evolved over thousands of years, through feasting periods and periods of famine. I'm pretty sure 1-2 days isn't bad considering 72hrs is limit at when it will def slow metabolism down, in fact not even going into starvation mode, but actually changing the heat of body by using adaptive thermogenesis as most people here are not at the low end on body fat percent that the body would actually go into true starvation mode....
Why do people get these things wrong every day every single time... Really annoying!0 -
if you're not trying to lose weight you should absolutely be eating more than 2,000 calories a day
Um, I don't think so. That number is individual. I am 130 pounds and have been on maintenance for well over a year. If I ate more than 2000 calories a day I would gain weight. My maintenance is 1680 + exercise calories if I earn them (I don't exercise every day). There is no magic number that applies to everyone.
To OP, I don't have one, but I think people in general are susceptible to eating disorders. It's why so many people are overweight or obese (ED applies to overeaters, too) and obsessed with dieting and the constant yo-yo and shame/emotional eating, etc.. I think you just notice it more on here because it's the nature of the website - eating and fitness - it's what people are going to talk about.0
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