I'm a 17 year old female and have issues about my weight.im 5'8 and a GROSS 145 lbs (im going to be 115 one day=]) it started over two years ago when I started to diet because my parents would criticize me about my weight (ive probably tried over 20 different kinds since then) and I try to control everything I eat.im constantly thinking about how fat I am and how gross food is. When I first started dieting I used to starve myself,throw up and take laxatives. After I did that stuff and lost a good amount of weight I gained it back and it's a constant battle too loose it again. I usually try to starve myeslf because it makes me feel good but it ends up not working out in the end. I know a lot of what I do is bad but I love the feeling of how thin I feel after and the control it takes. I don't know what else to do . I just want to be skinny and in control of my life and its becoming really time consuming what should I do? I used to work out by my parents made me stop because they said I did it too much.

Hun, your putting way too much pressure on yourself Your (BMI Body mass Index) is 22 your average for your height and weight, If you go down to 115 you would be underweight, that is not healthy. Have you tried working out? Perhaps toning your body? You do not need to loose weight. Have you tried going to conseling to talk to someone? This is a very serious issue. You should not be starving yourself, and taking extreme measures to loose weight as you can be doing major damage to your organs. I would suggest you talk to someone about this this is important

At 5'8" 115 would be very unhealthy for you.

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions before I go into depth answering your question?

At 5'8" 115 would be very unhealthy for you.

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions before I go into depth answering your question?

What kind of questions?

Simple really...

You are 17

Are you still in school?

Are you a straight A or B student?

Are you a good kid?

I know the questions sound strange, but they are important.

Simple really...

You are 17

Are you still in school?

Are you a straight A or B student?

Are you a good kid?

I know the questions sound strange, but they are important.



Yes I'm still in school
Yes I hate always getting As and Bs because then my parents get disappointed if I don't.
And my parents think I'm a good kid I kind of am but I like to have fun

Do you consider yourself a perfectionist?

Do you consider yourself a perfectionist?


At times yes but it depends on what its hard to explain.

Okay, thank you for answering my questions, but I have a few more, okay?

Have you ever been told, or felt, that you have anorexia?

Have you ever been told, or felt, that you are bulemic?

Okay, thank you for answering my questions, but I have a few more, okay?

Have you ever been told, or felt, that you have anorexia?

Have you ever been told, or felt, that you are bulemic?


Yess I have been told that but I don't care because I know that I'm not. Plus they would be skinny.

OK, my sister allie is 18. Ever since she was 13 she's had an eating disorder. Staving herself, throwing up, ext. And now 3 rehabs and 8 more years of conceling later, she's still not close to being better. Its been so hard on the hole family. I think that maybe you should slow down and not be so hard on yourself. 145 is NOT BAD! Expically for a 5'8, 17 year old. I think you should just try to eat healthy and work-out every once in a while. But DO NOT starve, or throw-up. Its so bad 4 your body. Please just consider my advise.

-confused4

yess i have been told that but i dont care because i know that i m not. plus they would be skinny.

Hun, anorexics are skinny, bulemics are average weight and some are even overweight.

At your weight and height, you are actually perfect. If you feel otherwise it may be time for some counseling.

Listen hun , we've got way much in common.
I'm 17 , I'm 5"9 and I weigh about 145
For a very long time I felt the same way you do right now. I believed I was grossly overweight and that I needed to do anything I could to lose the weight. I was like thatfor three years. But then I started talking to the people I was close to and realized that the only who thought I was fat was me!!
That was two months ago and I still talk to those people when I feel that I need a little support and reminding of how beautiful I really am and I've never felt better about myself.
But if you really want to lose weight a healthy way then just eat right and exercise normally. Over doing it will just land you in the hospital. And starving yourself may cause temporary weight loss but when it comes back it will bing a couple of extra punds with
If you really need someone to talk to
e-mail me at EMAIL REMOVED FOR PRIVACY

Good Luck Hun!!

First of all, like J_9 and others have said, you are normal for your age and height. 115 would be very underweight for you. Second, if you have starved yourself or made yourself throw up, you DO have an eating disorder. Even if you aren't doing those things right now, you are still way too focused on your weight. Binging and purging, starving yourself, and "yo-yo" dieting are VERY damaging to your body. As important as your weight is to you right now, you need to stop and think that you could be doing Permanent damage to yourself. You need to talk to your family doctor about this. Be honest with him/her about everything you have done in the past as far as dieting too. He/she can not only refer you to a good counselor who specializes in eating disorders, but can also make sure that you haven't damaged your body so far. You need to see a doctor before you do any kind of exercise or dieting. Sometimes, you can have something wrong with you and still feel OK. I think considering all the stress you have put your body through you need a physical, and whatever other treatment the doctor thinks that you should get. Once you have made sure your body is healthy, then you can start working on your mental health. Tell your folks you need to see a counselor. Even if you have tried it in the past and it didn't help, try it again. Find a counselor that you like and feel comfortable with. You could also talk to the school nurse for information on eating disorders, healthy weight, and counseling. I'm sure she/he would be glad to help out. It's a hard battle to stop obsessing over physical appearance. But, it's a battle that you CAN win. There is help out there. Also, take a look at these websites that might help:
Eating Disorders (http://mirror-mirror.org/eatdis.htm)
The World's Most Comprehensive Eating Disorder Referral and Information Service Specializing in Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder, eating disorders, binge eating, bulimia, anorexia (http://www.edreferral.com)
Mental Help Net - Eating Disorders (http://mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=46)
I hope this helps. Remember that you are a unique beautiful person. Focus on being healthy in all areas of your life, not on your weight. Good luck and let me know if you ever need some support! :)

At 5'8" 115 would be very unhealthy for you

Ok you, I'm going to butt my big nose into this one because these responses have got me sctatchin me noggin :confused: So I'm 23, 24 on Dec 1st, just a few hairs shy of 5'10", and I weigh around 118lbs. Of course I fluctuate, who doesn't, but I've never been over 120lbs. I'm naturally very slender, as is my mom. Up until 2 or so years ago we wore the same size :eek: Anyhoo, I'm not at all unhealthy, other than anxiety issues. As a matter of fact, I'm very healthy and strong as I've been back and forth with an Army recruiter (don't ask :rolleyes: ) and turns out I'm of ideal standards. So, question is, what's the deal? Why is 115lbs SO unhealthy for her? Is it because she's still young? Of course her ideas of weight loss are outrageously unhealthy, but if she did it right, why would 115lbs be so bad? I've attached a couple of pics so you can see that I don't resemble skeletor or anything. Help??

Yes, it is mainly because of her age. At that age she needs all she can get to be healthy. I am currently 43, 5'2" and 122, doc told me I need to gain weight to support my heart and lung health.

When we think of weight we thing of how fat or how thin we are. We don't consider that all of our other organs depend on our weight to carry out normal daily functions.

Katie, just viewing your pics shows me that you are healthy but still underweight due to your height.

Wow girl you have problems your weight is a good weight at your age... and why do you want to be so skinny anyway... what the big deal I personally think it's gross I like curves and girls are supposed to have curves and let me tell you guys like girls with curves rather than skin a bones...

115 is skinny for your height. Set your goal to be size 7 or 9 and don't worry about what the scale says.

wow girl you have problems your weight is a good weight at your age...and why do you want to be so skinny anyways... what the big deal i personally think it's gross i like curves and girls are supposed to have curves and let me tell you guys like girls with curves rather than skin a bones....

Wow. That was bold. I don't remember mentioning that I had a problem with my weight. I'm not trying to lose or gain weight. I'm perfectly comfortable in my skin and with the way I look. I feel good. I eat right for the most part (aah junk food :) ) and the only exercise I get is walking my pups and frolicking at Ft. Woof with them. Which is enough for me. Your statement was not only bold but kind of mean. At least you're just an internet stranger that thinks I'm gross, and not someone I know, because that would hurt to be told I'm gross by someone I care about. And let me tell you, the only guy I care about what he thinks of me, my husband, likes me just the way I am. Boney a$$ and all.

NOhelp4u- I know I'm skinny, but I don't aim to be. I've just always been. I don't have a goal. I'm usually in a size 4 and sometimes 6 because I am so tall. And I don't ever worry what the scale says, I worry about how I feel. But I do appreciate you not being mean to me like the above poster :D

J_9- Thanks for the enlightenment :) I never took into consideration the health of all the other organs. Now that you mention it, my mom is 48 and started gaining weight 2 or so years ago. She now struggles with cholesterol through the roof and has a very weak heart. She did have rheumatic fever as a kid though. Think her being so skinny all her life played a part in her current health? Or is that just father time catching up with her? Her and I are like clones, she graciously passed her anxiety disorder down to me. Thanks again, now I've got something new to ponder :)

My friend, in a perfect world every girl would look like Barbie and every guy would look like Ken. But guess what ; we don't live in a perfect world! Yes, you're a little overweight. So am I (if you call 5-10 and 220 lbs. a "little" overweight lol!) But that's life and your parents and everyone else you come into contact with have got to learn to deal with it. Your parents are obviously overbearing perfectionists (as were mine when I was growing up) and I don't even mean that disrespectfully, but Mom and Dad also need to have the intelligence and maturity to realize that life isn't perfect and yes, in this world a number of people are somewhat "overweight". My only response to that is "So what?" Live your life the way that's right for you. If you truly feel that you want to lose some weight then stick with your exercising and stick to a sensible diet. I don't know if I have too much faith in the various "fad" diets out there but just stick to simple principles like limiting fats and sweets and eating mainly fruits and vegetables. Drink mostly fruit juices and water and limit soda and other sugary beverages. Don't starve or purge yourself as neither of those are healthy and are in fact a lot more harmful physically than carrying around a few extra pounds. Don't pressure yourself to be perfect, in any aspect of your life. That's not realistic for you to impose on yourself and it's not fair for others to impose it on you.

I think its ridiculous that you think that because you aren't a certain weight, you must be fat. I don't know what to say except that its sad to think that 145 pounds is fat when you are that tall. I don't think that is fat at all. Maybe you aren't super skinny, you aren't a size 0 or a 2, but that doesn't make you fat.. You are probably a size 8, which hundreds of thousands of people would love to be. Maybe you aren't perfectly in shape, but you are not FAT!! For anyone to say that, they are wrong. MAybe you could start exercizing to feel more fit and toned, but even skinny people can be flabby and untoned.
The girl who posted who pictures look way too skinny to me. Maybe that is what she thinks looks good, but I think it looks like she is undernourished and borderline anorexic.
Instead of ripping yourself apart and hating your body, embrace it. Guys are more attracted to a girl with confidence in herself, than one who is obsessed with their body and have a negative self image. YOU have to see yourself as beautiful and accept who you are.. not look to your friends who are shorter, skinnier and more petite and wish you were them. In ten years you will look back and realize how good you do look.
If you want to feel better about yourself, do something for yourself and stop focusing on what you hate about you, and focus on what you do like.. You have to accept yourself for who you are, not who you want or think you should be. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't take care of yourself, but it means to stop looking to other ideals to determine what is beautiful. What you see in magazines aren't real and realize that there are more important things to worry about than what the number is on the scale. Good luck, you are young and have your whole life ahead of you, don't waste it worrying like that.

The girl who posted who pictures look way too skinny to me. Maybe that is what she thinks looks good, but I think it looks like she is undernourished and borderline anorexic.

Shattered- While I think your post was very caring and uplifting to the OP, I also think that could've been achieved without tearing me down. I'm not sure if the comment was made to make her feel better or what. Like I stated in my 2nd post in this thread, I don't aim to be rail thin. I have just always been. So has my mother. I eat what I want and get mild exercise. I wear a 4 or 6. Depends. Do think I look good? Sure. But I don't have any weight goals or anything. I'm healthy and I feel great. Do I think 145 is fat for 5'8"? Heck no!! I fully and wholeheartedly agree with you that the OP should embrace herself and the way she looks. And certainly shouldn't be abusing her own precious body with throwing up and taking laxatives. I was initially just wondering why the heck 115lbs would be so unhealthy for her. Which J_9 did a great job of explaining it to me. But I can assure you, I am not undernourished and most definitely not boderline anorexic. Bottom line is, the OP needs to take better care of herself, because she is beautiful no matter what the scale says.

I don't think sarcasm is very helpful. I think that this girl has a serious distorted body image issue. She is a perfectionist and has tendencies to be both anorexic and bolemic. That is nothing to joke about. Someone like that has to work on their issues within, because it won't change no MATTER WHAT THEY WEIGH!! Millions of girls suffer with this, even as young as ten and eleven years old. IT is important that we start getting to the root of the problem, instead of focusing on the exterior issue of weight. BY THE WAY, she is not obese, she just wants to be perfect and isn't happy with being who she is. THE Biggest Loser is for people who suffer from obesity and are hundreds of pounds overweight. Maree has an image in her mind of what she thinks she should look like and becomes obsessed with that image. She needs to find someone to talk to help her, not make idiotic jokes.

Katie, I apologize for seeming insensitive and cruel. That wasn't my intention. You have a much better idea about who you are and accept yourself. You see yourself as beautiful. HOWEVER, many people that height and weight are borderline anorexic and do not eat as much as they should. I shouldn't have stereotyped you that way. That was an error on my part. I guess because I grew up with an anorexic mother who was about ninety pounds when she gave birth to me. Your picture reminded me of her and I jumped to conclusions. YOU are absolutely right, the bottom line is she needs to take care of herself and see herself as beautiful and worthy. STARVING or PURGING is never the answer, it is a quick fix for underlying issues that have no way to be resolved without seeking some sort of support or guidance. You have give very kind advice and I shouldn't have made such judgements. Please excuse my words, I could have been more tactful. You shouldn't have felt attacked, I just feel like screaming when I see girls killing themselves to look that way. It isn't the norm, although it is for you.. I hope you know I understand and I am sorry..

“The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.”“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Anony.

Shattered- thank you for the apology. I didn't figure your intent was to hurt me, but that's how I took it at first. You are so very right about others with my build and how they perceive themselves in a negative way and push too far. I am so sorry to hear about your mother, however, she's got a great daughter ;o) I do understand now why it would be easy for you to jump to conclusions. I think you are so very kind and sincere. Let's just hope some of the awesome advice given to the OP sunk in. I hate the thought of anyone hurting themselves in any fashion.

****Side note... The SSFata$s sunk a long time ago. I think 2 people in particular in this thread need to hop aboard the SSGo2Hell. They know who they are. Very mature BTW to throw around the 'retarded' phrase. God Bless any future children you may have, let's hope Karma doesn't decide to bite you then.

Katie... I liked your side note... LOL
I hope we can guide her in the right direction, you give great advice yourself and lets hope she decides to listen, instead of wasting her life on superficial, exterior things..

We have to learn to accept and love ourselves for who we are, ultimately we cannot be happy until we do.

Healthy to me is more important then skinny or fat. Do you consider yourself healthy? What does your Dr. say about your weight?

im a 17 year old female and have issues about my weight.im 5'8 and a GROSS 145 lbs (im going to be 115 one day=]) it started over two years ago when i started to diet becasue my parents would criticize me about my weight (ive probably tried over 20 different kinds since then) and i try to control everything i eat.im constantly thinking about how fat i am and how gross food is. when i first started dieting i used to starve myself,throw up and take laxatives. after i did that stuff and lost a good amount of weight i gained it back and its a constant battle too loose it agian. i usually try to starve myeslf because it makes me feel good but it ends up not working out in hte end. i know alot of what i do is bad but i love the feeling of how thin i feel after and the control it takes. i dont know what else to do . i just want to be skinny and in control of my life and its becoming really time consuming what should i do? i used to work out by my parents made me stop because they said i did it too much.
Dont listen to what other people tell you. you can loose weight at your own time anyways if they wanted you to that bad then the would help you loose the wait anyways im sure your not that bad being a female we always think we are fat even when we are not soo just loose it at your own pace just maybe go on a jog or a walk mabey once a day and when you start doing that you will loose wait a little at a time and you will soon get the body that you want and by the way im 130

You should ignore the number. It's just a number. YOu should be HEALTHY. Starving yourself and throwing up or taking laxatives is NOT healthy.
If you want to maintain or lose weight - exercise and eat healthy.

When I was 17, I wanted to be rail thin. But, my body is not made that way. I, as a former boss told me, will never be "petite". I am 5'8" also. My weight stayed around 140. I lost down in my mid 20's to what I thought was a perfect weight for me. EVERYONE said I looked sick. That was not the reaction I was going for.
I am now 34 and okay with the way I look. I am not "fat" nor "skinny" I am me.

Learn to love yourself. No number on the scale is going to make that happen.