Can y'all keep a secret? (tw: possible eating disorder?)

I do not share the same experience but I feel for where you are. What dose are you using now? Could you drop to a lower maintenance level and hold at a somewhat higher weight? You could still quiet the food noise and feel positive about your shape while keeping enough mass for health. Too little body fat or major muscle loss can affect organs and the heart. I am not a doctor, but 89 pounds at 5'3" looks too low for a healthy body composition. The straightforward reality is you probably need to put some weight back on. I know that may not land because of how you have viewed yourself, but being very thin is rarely attractive in my opinion. Health matters more than that anyway. This is a tough one to answer because I want to be helpful without saying the wrong thing, yet you clearly posted looking for input.

It seems worthwhile to speak with someone if possible and get an actual professional view. Even if there is no disorder, they might connect you with a nutritionist so you can confirm your intake is adequate.

I remember when I first got compounded medication they asked whether I had ever had an eating disorder. My issue was overeating so I answered no. The form listed bulimia and anorexia as choices. This topic definitely matters, and it sounds like you are already thinking about how to handle it. Thanks for posting.

Reading this as a therapist who works with eating disorders, the post shows symptoms beyond just the weight number. The way you are thinking about it fits the pattern. I recommend finding a therapist who actually specializes in these issues. You should ask detailed questions before starting with anyone, because many list eating disorders on their profiles without real training. It is a narrow field. In an area of about a million people I could probably name the truly qualified private-practice providers on one hand. Take care choosing, but please do choose, and sooner rather than later. It may not feel like a problem yet, and I only have one post to go on, but I am concerned.

I am not small and petite the way you are, but I am starting to wonder if I am developing an eating disorder myself. My husband and I were just discussing how he thinks I am not eating enough. He has begun watching how and when I eat. I probably would not have eaten without the reminders. We agreed I should look into counseling. All of that is to say, if you have someone close, sit down and talk it through with them. If not, the decision is yours.

So if it ended up that way with an eating disorder, do you think you'd try to change anything? I'm not judging at all because life throws hard stuff at everyone, but since you've gotten to wondering about your own behaviors and if something should be done, I'd be curious about how you're figuring out what to do next.

I disagree. Recognizing that something is unhealthy yet not changing course is already a warning sign.

This is one more reason compounded versions carry risk. Think about seeing a doctor and sharing what you wrote here, including the medication use. There is still time to turn things around. Honestly, try stopping the GLP-1, keep exercising if you want, and attempt a careful increase in calories with emphasis on protein. You can calculate the macros needed and track them. That approach can keep you lean while staying out of the danger zone. And talk with a professional.

Anyone who has dealt with weight issues probably carries some tendency toward disordered eating or body-image problems, whether active or not. I think I have it myself because I joke with coworkers and family about my size even though I am now 195 at 5'11" after starting at 240. That is also why I picked the Michelin Man as my spirit animal. I wish you the best, you are not alone.

Having had my own eating disorders at different times, I want to echo every call to find a therapist. Telehealth options exist if local specialists are hard to reach. Therapy can feel intimidating and the first fit may not be right, which is why it is called work. A good match is worth it. Body dysmorphia is difficult to manage by yourself. I also suggest a medical checkup and full honesty with your doctor so they know what to look for and who to refer you to. Eating disorders can have hidden effects you might not notice yet. Thank you for posting here. Few of us can give direct help, but we can point toward real resources. It took courage to share.

It took bravery to post this, especially when judgment is easy. Part of you probably already senses that a change is needed. Sixteen pounds may not seem like much to someone larger, but it is over 15 percent of your starting weight. That is significant regardless of time frame. There is also a good chance you have lost muscle along with fat, which happens quickly in a deficit without enough protein or lifting. The longer-term effects of low weight and missing nutrients often appear later, especially if you are younger. You can feel fine until you do not. I learned this the hard way and some damage cannot be reversed. I hope you hear the concern and reach out for the right kind of support.

Staying underweight for extended periods is harmful. I have seen people with anorexia or bulimia start GLP-1s and say it is great because they are never hungry. If you are underweight you should feel hunger. That is your body demanding nutrients. With obesity the hunger signals are broken and the medication helps reset them. At 100 pounds and 5'3" there is nothing to reset. At 89 pounds you are in territory where a heart issue could happen at any time. It does not matter whether it looks good to you. I hope you can get help with the eating disorder, stop the medication, and return to a safer weight. I expected that once these drugs arrived some people with anorexia would seek them out and use them to lose more.

Using these medications to reach very low weights is a version of anorexia or bulimia, similar to diabulimia. I have had EDNOS since 2019. My goal weight is 89 pounds, which is oddly the same number, and I know it will probably drop further once I get there, the way it always has. I recognize this is disordered. I am not ready to recover yet.

Even though you do not believe you have a major eating disorder, one hallmark of anorexia is an inaccurate sense of what your weight and health actually look like. A quick search gives the DSM-5 severity levels based on BMI: mild at 17 or above, moderate 16-16.99, severe 15-15.99, extreme below 15. At 89 pounds you are roughly 40 kg with a BMI around 15.8, which falls into the severe category and carries real health risks. Your starting weight was already low despite feeling high to you, which is typical in anorexia. Using tirzepatide in this situation adds risk instead of helping. No one can convince you to get support unless you see a problem, and the fact that you asked suggests you sense one at some level.

Very brave post. It is probably a useful first step.

I have been waiting for someone willing to post this. Ever since reading about semaglutide years ago I have thought some percentage of users would start at a normal weight and want to go lower. It will probably be difficult, but I hope you can stop using the medication this way and return to a healthy weight.