Avoiding All Fat

Question:

Hi! I am 21 year old female and I am obsessed with my wieght. It has gotten to the point where I have cut out all fat, salt, cheeses, and meat in my diet. It may sound like a normal diet, but I am the type that feels like you cant have ANY fat at all. Zero salt and no dairy. I am also scared because now I look at myself in the mirror, and think that I am HUGE. I am 5"4' and I wiegh 120 lbs. I find myself telling myself that I need to lose 10 or 15 lbs. And I believe that I will not be happy unitl I do so. I cry after I eat something as simple as a fat free hard pretzel because I fear that everyhting that goes in my mouth will turn to fat. I never used to be this way, and I hate the fact that I am. I need some advice.

Thank you.

Answer:

You are right to feel scared about your painful relationship with your body and food. I will explain why I think that you do need some professional advice.

Some of the things you describe, cutting out all fat from your diet, and telling yourself you need to lose 10 or 15 lbs. below what appears to be an appropriate weight for your height, are behaviors which are all too common in our culture. They reflect a distorted view of what is healthy, but are not yet diagnosable as eating disorder symptoms.

While the general public health message in recent years has been that the proportion of dietary fat should be limited to 30% or less of total caloric intake, many people have interpreted this to mean the less fat I eat, the healthier I will be. Fat intake should not be zero because a certain amount of dietary fat is necessary to maintain health. Symptoms of fat deficiency can include problems with: dry skin, hair loss, hormonal imbalances and bowel functioning. You may want to consult a dietician to learn more about your food choices and their consequences. (Check with the American Dietetic Association's Find a Registered Dietitian or your physician to find someone near you.)

You also describe being obsessed with your weight, seeing a normal weight body as huge and crying after eating a pretzel. These experiences suggest to me that your distortions around body image and food are beginning to seriously interfere with your life. I recommend that you work with a psychotherapist specializing in eating problems to help you understand why you have developed these obsessions and distortions. I am concerned that if these symptoms and your underlying feelings are not addressed, you could develop a full-blown eating disorder. (Check with Renfrew Center: Eating Disorders/Women's Mental Health, Treatment Locator Service--Online Psych , or Treatment Resources for Eating Disorders, to find a therapist near you)

You are clearly someone who is trying very hard to take care of herself. I hope that with some professional help you will be able to find a sense of purpose that is not based on weight or food, and more joy and fun in life.