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Eating disorders

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Help for DD with possible eating/diet issues

5 replies

blinkbonny · 05/01/2022 20:34

Hello, I have noticed for some months now that my DD’s approach to food was changing. She is at uni (age 21) so I only have limited opportunities to see her. Home for Christmas, her weight loss had become really extreme, she is shockingly thin. She also exercises a lot: running 3-5mi 3x a week, 45min stationary bike sessions, long walks; when at uni she goes to the gym several times a week. She does eat and her portions are not minuscule but it seems to me she isn’t getting enough nutrition to fuel the activity hence the weight loss. She agrees she may be getting into an unhealthy relationship with food and isn’t sure how to improve it. As a first step we discussed taking her to see a nutritionist who could maybe help her plan a healthy diet that she could stick to and ensure she is getting the right nutrients. She’s a vegetarian and quite nutrition-aware so I’m hoping that getting some expert advice is a good idea but I’m feeling out of my depth. She really is alarmingly thin. And I’m not sure how one goes about finding a nutritionist. My daughter isn’t registered at our home GP anymore so would have to go via her uni GP I guess? I am not sure what questions I am asking but any advice on how to help her improve her relationship with food would be very appreciated, or what to ask the doctor to get some real help (I don’t want her to be sent off to do research on her own because I don’t think she’d reach the right conclusions, she doesn’t think she’s eating wrongly). Thank you for listening and any thoughts, sorry for the long post.

OP posts:
ANameChangeAgain · 05/01/2022 21:08

Is she using food and exercise as something she can control / obsess over to refocus from a stressful uni life?
Try not to use negative words about her weight or body in front of her, obviously 'alarmingly thin' on here is a safe space where you can speak freely, but not words to use in front of her.
I have a dd with very worrying eating habits, much younger than yours and I think its due to gcse stress and previously being over weight, but we are dealing with it by encouraging good habits, making sure good nutrition is available and never commenting on her body.

ANameChangeAgain · 05/01/2022 21:10

Sorry, meant to add, obviously what i said above is whilst you are waiting for professional help, which may be access through the uni?

blinkbonny · 05/01/2022 23:17

Thank you both. Yes I have been reading the Beat site found from posts on here - very helpful but a lot to take in. And thank you for flagging, yes I am much more guarded in my language with DD, in fact haven't really commented on her weight as such. But I am alarmed by it. Accessing support through uni is a good idea. The weight loss could well be triggered by stress, she had a busy term, but it's still a worry as the year is not going to get any less stressful! All advice and input is very much appreciated, thank you for this and any more thoughts.

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