To think extreme weight loss is not taken as seriously in overweight people

I’ve recently lost 4 stone, dropping from 19 to 14 and everyone is so happy for me, willing me on to keep going. That’s great.

But for the first time in my life I have an eating disorder, and even if anyone knew I don’t think they would care, because all that matters is the weight loss.

I sort of get it - I need to lose the weight ASAP so the means by which I’m doing it don’t seem that relevant. Except that clearly if I ever do reach a decent weight I will be left with some major MH issues to unpick.

As other posters have said, once you are obese the only thing that matters is losing weight. I doubt that any ED will be as harmful as being 8 stone overweight.

Is she taking a good multivitamin/ mineral supplement? If so she will be ok till she hits a certain weight but she needs to be mindful of messing up her metabolism with crash dieting as that could lead to issues trying g to maintain a healthy bmi when she reaches it

Do you really not see the difference between someone hugely overweight losing a lot of weight, and someone who is of an average size?

I wouldn't worry OP, unfortunately we don't need that many calories to get by, especially if overweight, you can eat pretty much nothing for quite a while and be fine or actually healthier. You might say she had an eating disorder before, as her diet caused her to become overweight. (Not saying this to judge, I'm fat myself and I'd say it about myself too).

You probably get sufficient vitamins, fibre and protein from chicken and apples to be fair.

If she's previously been very overweight, then the diet that made her that way probably was worse.

I know MN thinks you'll die of vitamin deficiency if you don't have a bucket of blueberries every day but plenty of people seem to function well enough with ketchup, pizza sauce and chips as the only fruit and veg in their diet.

She's probably better off eating chicken and apples and energy drinks and being eight stone lighter though overall. Perhaps people don't say anything because it's none of their business.

It's not going to do her any great harm to be in a large calorie deficit for a while. It's far from ideal but the harm caused by being 14 stone overweight will be much greater. She would do well to improve her diet and increase exercise but let's hope she can do that now she's lost a good chunk of body fat.

She needs to lose weight so what’s the issue?

You need a large calorie deficit to lose weight significantly; more than people realise.

Why are you bothered?

Weight comes off much quicker when there is more to spare. This loss will improve her mobility, granted she needs to take a healthier approach, a calorie deficit is a deficit, if it’s less broccoli or less chocolate.