There is nothing wrong with trying to drop a few pounds and using healthy methods to reach your goals. However, if weight starts to become an obsession, it can lead to serious problems. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that can cause complications with your heart and overall health. If you suspect you or someone you know may suffer from an eating disorder, ask a medical professional for help.
Fatigue
Food is energy. When you deprive your body of that energy, there will be side effects. The most obvious will be fatigue. If you feel tired all the time or even dizzy, this can be an indicator that you are not eating enough. Reducing calories so low that you start to feel tired will work against your weight-loss goals. The body has a natural mechanism to deal with starvation. Once you reach a threshold, the system will kick in, and your body will start to break down muscle tissue for fuel.
Stepping on the Scale Several Times a Day
Weight is really just a number. It has little to do with your fitness or how you look. If you find yourself constantly stepping on the bathroom scale, you are being unrealistic about your weight loss. Try to break the scale habit. Weigh yourself once or twice a week at the most. Recording your weight after you eat or go to the bathroom may be a symptom of an eating disorder.
Excessive Exercise
Exercise is healthy, and being fit is not the same as being obsessed. However, if you are filling all your free time with exercise, this goes beyond just trying to stay healthy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 to 300 minutes a week for healthy exercise. Do two or more strength-training sessions a week to build muscle mass. Try to stay within these boundaries with your exercise plan.
Considerations
Weight loss requires that you cut calories. However, anything below 1,500 calories a day for men and 1,200 a day for women is not healthy without medical supervision, advises MedlinePlus, a website from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Some eating disorders are life-threatening and can cause damage to your organs. The decisions you make about weight loss may affect you for the rest of your life. If you are concerned about your eating habits, ask for help. A parent, friend or sibling can assess your situation and help you decide if you have crossed the line from dieting to eating disorder.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Teen Eating Disorders: Tips to Protect Your Teen; Mayo Clinic Staff; April 22, 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Anorexia Nervosa: Symptoms; Mayo Clinic Staff; Dec. 19, 2009
- University of Michigan Health System; Eating Disorders: What Families Need to Know; Kyla Boyse, R.N.; October 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How Much Physical Activity Do Adults Need?
- MedlinePlus: Tips for Losing Weight
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