Should I be worried?

Hello Jaydee, I am not sure if you should be worried quite yet or not. I have a 14 year old step daughter who is the same way. She eats enough to feed at least three people, she always has. She is also the one who eats all of the left overs. She will be 15 here in a few weeks and has also taken on the adult attitude. She thinks that everything we advise her to do is wrong and she knows better than we do. She only weighs 111 lbs and wears a size 0, we have never thought about her purging we just know that her mother is very small(they wear the same clothes0 and that she is active..she runs cross country so we are sure she is burning it off. I would suggest maybe keeping and eye on her without her knowing..I wouldn't ask her if she is or even suggest it because if she isn't it could potentially harm her that you think she is. Here is a website you can check out that gives the signs maybe check i tout and just keep an eye on here for awhile to see...I wish you the best! http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/anorexia/ANO_symptoms.html

No, she's just entering into her teenage years. Her attitude is normal and will continue for a while. Her eating could indicate that she's getting ready for a final growth spurt into her adult body. Most teens can eat and eat and never gain a pound. It's just her growing body is burning off calories quickly and she needs to take more in to feel satisfied. The only time I'd worry is if she's eating becaue she's sad or depressed. other then that just make sure she stays active and keeps burning those calories off.

When I was around that age, you wouldn't believe how much I could eat, and I stayed so thin that people assumed I didn't eat. I think we tend to associate large amounts of food with growing boys and assume that girls who eat a lot are somehow abnormal. Girls' bodies grow a lot too around this age, and they're often entering puberty and starting menstruation, too. All this means that the body needs extra nutrients. As long as you don't notice any other signs of an eating disorder, you really shouldn't worry about your daughter. Just make sure that she is filling up on healthy, nutrient-rich foods and not junk. Junk food isn't healthy even if she still stays thin.

Ah, the teen years. They all think they know everything. My ten year old thinks she knows everything too. My first thought would be that she has a high metabolism. I know that during the teen years they can eat like truck drivers ( boys and girls both) plus you said that she is very active so that would explain alot too. If she is throwing up she is not going to tell you. That is private for her. The best way to find out is to not let her know that you suspect that she may be doing that. Become a detective, start following her to the bathroom after she eats (tip toe) if she is throwing up you will hear her. Once you have gathered enough evidence then you confront her. If you don't hear anything she may not be doing anything.Good Luck.

I don't think you should approach her just yet, because even if she did start purging she will probably deny it. I think you should keep close to her and maybe make a doctors appointment and also check if she smells of vomit and check how often she goes to the toilet. It may be she has high metabolism, I have high metabolism and I have a huge appetite.

There are a couple of things you can do: 1) Let her live out her diet and eventually, if she is not purging, will gain weight and for most women, that will slow them down. 2) Don't take the direct approach with teenager cause they will rebel mostly. So start posting pictures of obese people on your fridge and pantry. She will get the point and bring the discussion to you instead! I was once an avid fast food junkie throughout my teens, but now I'm a personal trainer and considered a food drill sergeant by my clients. Sometimes these problems have a way to sort themselves out.

I think you are worrying too much. She's just about to reach the teenage years which means teens start to think they're invincible and they start taking on an attitude that is something like an adult, but not quite. Also, teens eat a lot as they grow. If she's active and eating a lot, not to mention growing, it's quite possible she won't put on much weight. She'll start to put more weight on as she gets older and goes through puberty, she may not gain much now. I wouldn't confront her about anything because I think you're getting ahead of yourself and worrying too much. I'd just pay attention to her eating habits. Is she hiding food? Is she pushing food around on her plate to make it look like she's eating? Does she seem emotionally unstable/disturbed? But don't turn this into a chance to remove her privacy, that'll only turn her into an enemy that won't tell you if something is wrong ever.

i dont think you need to worry as of right now. my son is 12 and let me tell you he goes threw those spurts where he can eat, eat and eat and in 1/2 hour say he still hungry. but he goes threw this where he will not eat hardly at all. the doctor told me with him it is because his motabolism is high and he will have these spurts because he is a growning child.. but.. if YOU think there is a problem then you should just talk to her about it and then make her an appointment with the doc. you are the mother and noone can tell you what to do.. but as a mother i would say, do what you think is best in this situation. you can take everything in that everyone is telling you and then you decide can decide what is the best.. good luck i hope everything goes well..

i think she is just going thru the turbulent teen period. don't worry. since she is so very active, i guess you dont have to worry much. but then, do keep an eye on her without being too obvious.

Worry yes every mother should worry about their children, especially daughters. If you have an open relationship with your daughter than talk to her about. If you are really worried seek a doctors help or a dietitians help. Pay attention to her teeth and her breath. If she is purging herself she will have bad breath because of the acid in her stomach. Also if she has been doing for a while she will be loosing her enamel on her teeth. Loss of hair and dullness in the hair is also a sign of purging because the body does not have enough nutrients and vitamins in the system to take care of the hair.

Oh dont jump to conclusions. I have a 9 year old that no joke could eat a horse and some nights it seems that she truly does eat a horse but its just that there body's are changing and so is there metabolism. I would give here some time make a dr's appointment and a Dental appointment disscuss with your daughters Doc and Dentist what your concerns are and when they are checking her out for her physical and making sure that her teeth dont have no cavities they can also look for signs of a eating disorder. That way you dont have to confront the situation with your daughter for ever alienating her from you. My mother used to do that to me and omg I hated her for it. I mean nothing worse than being accused of having a eating disorder when that was not the case. I would like I said make a doctors appointment and discuss your concerns with him he can tell you more than you would ever want to know about eating disorders. Good luck and just remember that as a mother when you pull your hair out over your teens it never comes back lol. I have started to pull my hair out and my daughter is only 9 lol. Any way good luck.

Well, first of all, she's 12 years old, of course she has the persona of an 18 year old. At this age she actually does think she knows everything and you, as her parent, has no idea of how this world is. LOL. As far as her eating, her metabolism, and the possibility of her purging goes, if she does have a high metabolism (the doctor can tell you), she is going to have a huge appetite and not gain weight. Lucky, lucky girl! But, if she is going frequently to the restroom, especially after meals, I would definitely have my alarms up. Sit closely to her, or as close as she will allow. What you are actually doing is checking for a foul odor of vomit. But she may be brushing her teeth after going to the bathroom. There again, if she is brushing her teeth, why? Bring that up. Also, when you're doing her laundry check for that smell again. Hope this helps.

I don't think your daughter has any health problem. I think it is just because she is growing and has a very fast metabolism. You also mentioned she is very active. If a person is always on the go, he/she tends to burn the fat faster than others. I have a guy friend who is also like your daughter. He eats a lot. I mean, really a lot. He eats food that is good for three people but he does not get fat. He does not even gain fat in his belly/stomach; his stomach is still as flat as ever. He went to the doctor just to be sure and he underwent some tests but the doctor said it was just pure metabolism. It is also because he plays basketball three times a week for two hours every game which is why he did not gain weight.

Don't worry, she'll be just fine. She will be the one who will approach you one day. Who doesn't need their own mother to help them. I ask for my moms help every single day. You must be very happy your a mother. Happy mylotting.

I really urge you not to approach her until you have solid evidence like hearing her puke in the bathroom, growing up i ate a lot but never gained any weight but my middle school classmates started a horrible rumor that i was anorexic, then i used to make sure to eat a lot in front of them so the evolved the rumor to that i purged after lunch,,,,it made me feel so insecure about my body that i cried almost every day, i can't imagine what i would have felt if my family thought the same thing as the classmates, so don't assume anything and realize that people have way different metabolisms, im 22 and this is heaviest i have ever been because now my metabolism is slowing down,,,,,so i urge you to have an open mind and not assume the worst

well, I am also have high metabolism and can as much as I want too... at first, I ate and ate really bad but after I had a bad experience of food I ate then I cut down. You can also meet a doctor about it if you think she is too skinny.

hello jaydee, i remember when i as that age, my mom also complains coz i ate too much but didn't gain weight, some of my cousins are also like that...maybe its just normal for that age...i'm not sure but i'm just talking based on my experience.

Purging? I think not, I think it is her body cycle naturally. I had a neighbor here also has a big appetite but his not even gaining weight.

no need to worried,she is growing,we cannot them.just pretend,would you like to see yur daughter like and axxxxn people(sorry to say)they are starving.most of them stealing to getting live.give him a time to change,she will change.

Hi Jaydee - I wouldn't be too worried. My daughter was the same way at age 12.... at this age, their metabolism is still very active - hence, they can eat alot and not gain as much weight as they would if they get older...