Annie Fox for Teens... Hey, Terra!

Annie (AKA Hey Terra!) has been around long enough to have experienced a lot of what Life can dish out. But, it hasn’t been so long that she's forgotten what it's like to be your age. Check out some of the thousands of email questions teens from around the world have sent to Terra. You may learn something useful from her answers:

Dieting and Eating Disorders:
“I weigh 75 pounds and I still think I'm fat.”

Hey Terra,

I'm very perplexed. I think I'm fat when everyone tells me I'm not. I'm bulimic but no one knows. How do I stop, because every time I do try to stop, I feel guilty and I become worse. I'm 12 years old and I weigh 75 pounds, I still think I'm fat.

Perplexed

Dear Perplexed,

You are very brave to have written to me. This is the first step to getting the help you need to stop. It won't be easy, but with help, you CAN recover!

I have a couple of suggestions. First, read this "Been There" story about "Barbara", who also had bulimia.

After you've read what she went though, you need to talk to your parents. (Show them this e-mail if that will make it easier to start a conversation.) Be honest with them so they can help you get the help you need. They love you and they want to see you healthy again.

And here are three excellent Web sites. The first is a national information and referral site for all kinds of eating disorders:

EDreferral (Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center)

ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association)

I wish you well. Let me know how you're doing. I care about you.

In friendship,

Terra


Need some advice? Write to Terra. She'll give you a straight answer you can trust without any lectures.


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