[boy of misery]

I've been at a healthy weight since last year. I'm a 19/20 years old male with a height of 5'9. I weigh 165 lbs now, but my lowest weight was 100 lbs when I was 15 years old. I was 5'7-5'8 tall that time, so that made me to have a Body Mass Index of 15.5.

I didn't really have any body image issues back then, and it's even more unlikely now. I just had depression. was an addiction towards gaming, which made me starved myself a lot by using the money I supposed to use to buy food to play online games at an internet cafe instead. I didn't do drugs nor smoking, though.

The real issue for me now is about the long-term/permanent damages that could've possibly done to my body by having a very low body weight. I've read about anorexia and its consequences a lot, so do you think I've had my brain damaged/shrunk/atrophied at that weight?

[Rookai]

It's impossible for someone to diagnose you over a forum like this, if you've noticed any symptoms you should go to your GP and highlight the concerns you have.

Realistically the only thing we can do on the student room is encourage you to see a Doctor and get yourself back to a healthy weight.

[Oldboy5745]

I think my brain shrank just reading this post.

How do you expect internet strangers to tell you if your brain has been affected when we don't know the specifics of your diet or routine. Just go see a doctor if you're worried. If you've maintained a healthy weight, diet and lifestyle in the the last year then just keep it up!

[shiinkii]

The very fact that you considered getting help from TSR speaks volumes about the extend of your situation.

[jimbo139]

Not at all likely/

[Deziah]

Please don't try and self diagnose over the internet by searching things on google - it's the worst thing you can do and it will just blow things right out of proportion. I'm not a doctor, so my opinion probably isn't valid but I doubt you've done any serious damage. Serious brain damage usually occurs when the body suffers significantly and is pushed to it's limits, brain damage would probably occur if you went into a coma or something.

I also used to have an eating disorder and was terrified about what I'd done. The main thing is that you've cured it now, and have nothing to worry about.

[boy of misery]

(Original post by Deziah)
Please don't try and self diagnose over the internet by searching things on google - it's the worst thing you can do and it will just blow things right out of proportion. I'm not a doctor, so my opinion probably isn't valid but I doubt you've done any serious damage. Serious brain damage usually occurs when the body suffers significantly and is pushed to it's limits, brain damage would probably occur if you went into a coma or something.

I also used to have an eating disorder and was terrified about what I'd done. The main thing is that you've cured it now, and have nothing to worry about.

I often pushed myself to limits back in the day, when I was crazy about playing video game. I often played like up to hours a day, and sometimes I even played 1-3 days straight without sleeping.

Once when I was 100 lbs, I did a game marathon at an internet cafe. That time, I played 2-3 days straight without sleeping, and I only ate once and drank only a 500 ml bottle of water. After that, when I was walking on the way to home, I fell for the first time in my life. Could it be categorized as 'coma'? I still had a very little consciousness though because I can see one of my hands moving and shaking by itself and some people running into me and carrying me onto the nearest bench. However, immediately after they gave me a cup of water bought from the nearest shop, I regained my consciousness. So, what was happening? If nobody was giving me water, would I have died back then?

[You Failed]

(Original post by boy of misery)
After that, when I was walking on the way to home, I fell for the first time in my life. Could it be categorized as 'coma'? I still had a very little consciousness though

You clearly have no idea what a coma even is....

[Deziah]

(Original post by boy of misery)
I often pushed myself to limits back in the day, when I was crazy about playing video game. I often played like up to hours a day, and sometimes I even played 1-3 days straight without sleeping.

Once when I was 100 lbs, I did a game marathon at an internet cafe. That time, I played 2-3 days straight without sleeping, and I only ate once and drank only a 500 ml bottle of water. After that, when I was walking on the way to home, I fell for the first time in my life. Could it be categorized as 'coma'? I still had a very little consciousness though because I can see one of my hands moving and shaking by itself and some people running into me and carrying me onto the nearest bench. However, immediately after they gave me a cup of water bought from the nearest shop, I regained my consciousness. So, what was happening? If nobody was giving me water, would I have died back then?

You just fell slightly out of consciousness, I've known diabetics to do that often and they're fine. Brain damage often happens when the brain is starved of oxygen for a significant period of time, the most common cases I've heard about is when people's hearts actually stop for a few seconds. Things like strokes and meningitis. If you have brain damage, then you're more than likely going to know about it seen as the symptoms are usually noticeable. Do you have any noticeable symptoms?

Oh, and again, please bare in mind that I'm not a doctor and what I've said might be wrong. It's just stuff I've picked up in the past and you shouldn't try googleing stuff. ;D

[boy of misery]

(Original post by Deziah)
You just fell slightly out of consciousness, I've known diabetics to do that often and they're fine. Brain damage often happens when the brain is starved of oxygen for a significant period of time, the most common cases I've heard about is when people's hearts actually stop for a few seconds. Things like strokes and meningitis. If you have brain damage, then you're more than likely going to know about it seen as the symptoms are usually noticeable. Do you have any noticeable symptoms?

Oh, and again, please bare in mind that I'm not a doctor and what I've said might be wrong. It's just stuff I've picked up in the past and you shouldn't try googleing stuff. ;D

I feel like my thinking speed has been lowered/is lower now. My brain isn't as sharp as before, too. Everything feels number now.

[boy of misery]

bumping da thread

[Mutedmirth]

Gaming excessively can be seriously life threatening.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...-league-747660

[SuperCat007]

(Original post by Mutedmirth)
Gaming excessively can be seriously life threatening.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...-league-747660

I do hope this is a joke! Seriously an article from the mirror?! One of the worst and most biased, hyped up papers out there. The men who died had heart conditions.

Video gaming is an awful habit and can do you some serious damage. If you're concerned go to the GP but how can you expect people on here to diagnose brain atrophy?!

Why not get a book and start USING your brain. It's like all the other muscles in your body (I know the brain isn't made of muscle), if you don't use it, you lose it (not literally). Get a GCSE maths book (assuming you're of/above GCSE age) and work on the problems, buy New Scientist/whatever you're interested in intellectually and READ it! USE YOUR BRAIN and it will get quicker.

Again if you're really that worried then go to the doctor.

[Mutedmirth]

(Original post by SuperCat007)
I do hope this is a joke! Seriously an article from the mirror?! One of the worst and most biased, hyped up papers out there. The men who died had heart conditions.

Video gaming is an awful habit and can do you some serious damage. If you're concerned go to the GP but how can you expect people on here to diagnose brain atrophy?!

Why not get a book and start USING your brain. It's like all the other muscles in your body (I know the brain isn't made of muscle), if you don't use it, you lose it (not literally). Get a GCSE maths book (assuming you're of/above GCSE age) and work on the problems, buy New Scientist/whatever you're interested in intellectually and READ it! USE YOUR BRAIN and it will get quicker.

Again if you're really that worried then go to the doctor.

Is the telegraph better? Different story but still on the same thread.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...e-session.html

ABC news?
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/extreme...5#.T_SqTvWG6So

How about BBC news?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12541769
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4137782.stm

It's pretty rare for someone to die because they're gaming too much, but it does happen and I completely agree with you, he should see a doctor. None of us has any clue if you've done damage to yourself, but gaming addiction is like any addiction. It can destroy you.

[Silkielemon]

(Original post by SuperCat007)
I do hope this is a joke! Seriously an article from the mirror?! One of the worst and most biased, hyped up papers out there. The men who died had heart conditions.

Video gaming is an awful habit and can do you some serious damage. If you're concerned go to the GP but how can you expect people on here to diagnose brain atrophy?!

Why not get a book and start USING your brain. It's like all the other muscles in your body (I know the brain isn't made of muscle), if you don't use it, you lose it (not literally). Get a GCSE maths book (assuming you're of/above GCSE age) and work on the problems, buy New Scientist/whatever you're interested in intellectually and READ it! USE YOUR BRAIN and it will get quicker.

Again if you're really that worried then go to the doctor.

bolded; have you ever actually played a game?

[SuperCat007]

I think all of the media are very poor at reporting any kind of scientific or medical data. It's all twisted and contorted to suit them and make a better story. It's just the Mirror, Sun and Mail are some of the worst for it. (In my opinion)

Also I have played video games but they don't exercise your brain in the same way as using it to read or do mental arithmetic. Somehow it deadens you and you can't sleep, lose the need to eat or exercise, it is like an addiction to any other kind of drug. I think it's scary stuff, very scary stuff.