How do I convince my parents I do not have an Eating disorder?

[mik1997]

My parents are convinced that I'm starving myself and that is why I'm losing weight. I'm asian, I have a medium frame, I'm just over five feet tall and I'm just barely one hundred pounds with cloths on. I recently became a vegetarian back in June, so I have lost a bit of weight. My mom keeps comparing my weight to what it was last year which was 114lbs at the highest, but that's not a fair comparison because I was fat then. My mom said she's going to get my doctor involved if I don't start gaining weight but I don't want to. I'm perfectly healthy as it is right? I checked my BMI and it said I'm no where near under weight.

Please give me suggestions on how to get my parents to stop worrying. How do I make myself weigh more on a scale, so that my mom stops worrying because its too hard to gain weight back. What do you think the doctors will say?

[kheserthorpe]

I'd be concerned too.

Contrary to your 'no where near underweight' claim you're actually only about 3-4 lbs above being underweight. And this is on someone who has dropped 14 lbs by accident. If you have a light frame you might be fine, but if you actually have a medium frame, you might be borderline at this point - and is your weight even stable yet? BMI is a rough guide - but still.

You're 17 and 'became a vegetarian'. Do you buy all your own groceries and cook all your own meals? You can't take what your non-vegetarian family eats and skip the meat and expect to be healthy. You need to radically increase protein from other sources.

If you want to be a vegetarian, fine, but there is enough here suggesting you're not doing it responsibly that they're right to be worried.

[mik1997]

I pick out all my own groceries and cook all my own meals. I eat what is necessary and nothing more. I take different vitamins to substitute those that I'm missing out on in eating meat, and I do the right food combinations that are recommended to get the proper amino acids and such. I've even had a long talk with my doctor about how to stay healthy being a vegetarian because she was worried I would become anemic.

[kheserthorpe]

So has your weight stabilized?

[mik1997]

Yes. But I range from 97 and 103 depending on the day,

[Mtsmith]

Cheese. Keeps with vegan, will add a couple of pounds, make your mom happy. Good friend, adopted, Chinese, her white parents thought the same when she was 16, she became vegan. 5"1', she went from 110 to about 100. So they worried. She used cheese, shakes, put a couple of pounds on, folks and doc happy.

She is 25 now, same height, weight, healthy. You should be fine, if you see doctor, he will probably say that to your folks.

Just chill, have fun :)

[madmisskelly]

Just sit them down and explain to them that you've gone vegetarian and that is why you've lost weight.

A 14 pound weight loss seems a bit extreme, however, do make sure you are eating the right amount of nutrients and calories.

[JohnnyTheBoy]

the doctor will convince them for you. parents, particularly parents from conservative cultures (you mentioned you're asian), tend to be very overprotective but they tend to be very respective of authority.

Just bear with the doctor and all will be well.

[mik1997]

Oh, well I'm adopted and my current parents are Caucasian. But they're still over protective... thanks for your answer.

[JohnnyTheBoy]

oh! sorry to assume! you sound like you have great parents, they are just looking out for you but they don't know what's going on with you.

the more important part of my answer, though, was that the doctor address their concerns and reassure them with the facts ... your growth charts, weight-for age, regularity of menstrual cycle, how you feel about your body image, what your friends are like, and your general eating habits, as well as the physical exam, all have a role in the evaluation.

[martyfellow]

Show mom your BMI. If she insists you go to a doctor, well, the doctor will explain to them you are healthy!

There are so many teenagers with eating disorders in the US now, that yoou can't blame your parents for worrying.

[raptor]

I say go visit the doctor. You may not be intentionally starving yourself, but it is possible you're just not getting enough nutrients.

[Jking]

Eat more sugars and fats don't exercise, drink shakes that are made to increas weight, look at body building sites

[mik1997]

is that expensive to buy? Can you get it organic? Can it have side effects?

[Jking]

Not expensive, just taste nasty, look up the brands and see if they have any side effects

[Jager66]

buy a large cheese cake this week end and chow down on it in from of them till you eat it all.

[angel1142]

Eat happily with them... and go to the doctor.