hi sam. im 12 and ive always been really insecure but its gotten a lot worse ever since i started year 7 (started year 8 now). ive started to skip meals a lot and i dont want to gain weight. but when i do eat i always eat too much and then ill not eat for awhile after that to compensate for it. i check my bmi and my weight a lot and apparently im underweight but i dont feel like it, i feel so fat compared to my friends and people at school. in science a few days ago we watched this vid about anorexia and i honestly just wanted to cry because it made me realise how much i relate to it and everyone else was just laughing about the video. i dont want to end up in hospital but i also dont want to gain any weight. what do i do?
Sam
Hi there,
Eating problems can build over time and realising you might need support can feel like a big thing to accept. Thinking about the future, change, or getting support can feel overwhelming, but that’s partly why it’s important to get healthy support.
Lots of young people talk to Childline about their worries around asking for help, and many say they’re concerned about ending up in hospital. It can help to remember that your doctor or others won’t usually want to take you into hospital unless there’s something really dangerous happening. They’ll want to work with you to find the best way to help.
Start by thinking about who you feel safe talking to. It could be someone at home, in school, or maybe one of our counsellors. There’s no right or wrong way to start the conversation. You might want to show them the letter you wrote me or talk about the video you watched in science. If you’re struggling, we’ve got advice to help.
An eating disorder is serious, and it can affect your health. We’ve got a lot of information about anorexia and ways to cope, but it’s important to get the right support to make sure you’re not alone. Remember, even when you’re worried about gaining weight, people can still support you.
Take care,
Sam
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