'No such thing as a Fat Anorexic'

I completely agree with this. Nobody seems to worry until it seems like a big problem, and a threat to their health. But it is a threat to your health as soon as it begins.

Today one of my friends honestly tried to convince me that there's "no such thing as a fat anorexic" I was instantly shocked.. her argument was "I've never seen a fat person with anorexia."

I tried to explain to her that it is an eating disorder, and doesn't take effect straight away on everybody..but she didn't believe me. (She is very ignorant and seems to think she knows it all)

When did people become so ignorant as to think that anorexia only occurs in extremely thin people?!

But maybe I am wrong..what do you think?

Actually, I think the term 'anorexic' just means does not eat enough. 'Anorexia Nervosa' is the the mental disorder. A fat person couldn't have anorexia, it would be EDNOS because they wouldnt fit all the criteria one of which -someones already said- is to have a body weight less than 85% of what it should be.

Surely a certain portion of people with anorexia will begin by being overweight though? And could become anorexic or bulimic due to low self esteem/bullying about their weight?

But it's hard to tell you are unwell if you are at first going down to a more healthy weight, so I can understand why it isn't diagnosed. People might think when I/they look like/weigh x they will stop, but by then it can be too late and they are very deep into their mental illness, especially if they are getting lots of praise at first.

Exactly, that's what I thought.
I find it very ignorant for people to say "I've never seen a fat anorexic".. you can't see it until it's life threatening, it's mostly mental.

I actually think it's pretty easy to tell, people just don't know what signs to look for, like becoming withdrawn, never eating in public, visible weightloss. And it's hardly going down to a more healthy weight if you're doing it unhealthily.

Yes, but if you will lose weight, and that leads to a more healthy weight at first (although in an unhealthy way) people will naturally think it's a good thing. Also, if someone is losing weight and not eating in public, and they are looking healthy, I'd assume they have created a stringent diet plan and eat at certain times when I'm not there. I'd love to think I'd be able to notice if a loved one was developing anorexia but that is a bit too optimistic in my opinion

It would be easier if you lived with them and saw them all the time. It would certainly take a while for me to twig though, even if it was my housemates, I'm barely in the house so I'm not always around when they're eating. Although I rarely leave the house at weekends so I'd notice then. If it was another of my friends I probably wouldn't be able to tell, many people with anorexia become very good at hiding their condition.

Yes, but if you will lose weight, and that leads to a more healthy weight at first (although in an unhealthy way) people will naturally think it's a good thing. Also, if someone is losing weight and not eating in public, and they are looking healthy, I'd assume they have created a stringent diet plan and eat at certain times when I'm not there. I'd love to think I'd be able to notice if a loved one was developing anorexia but that is a bit too optimistic in my opinion

I understand what you're getting at but what I'm saying is the only thing stopping you from noticing if someone has an eating disorder is the misconception that you must be extremely underweight to have one. I can tell someone has bulimia if they take frequent trips to the toilet, look pale and have puffy cheeks and/or red eyes. I can tell someone could have anorexia if they make excuses as to why they won't eat way too much. The signs are there but we don't look for them because we're not aware of the signs or want to give them the benefit of the doubt.

That is of the assumption you spend a lot of time with the person, The symptoms of bulimia could be similar to diabetes and that of just an upset person. (Someone sad and going to the toilet to cry that is.)
I do kind of agree with you though, but the majority of people don't know the symptoms of these things.

The symptoms of bulimia also include fear of food, overexercise, vomit-breath, marks on knuckles, etc.- all distinctly different from any other illness.

I think it's a shame that we don't know if someone is mentally ill until they've really damaged themselves. I knew something was wrong with my sister months before she was sectioned and diagnosed with schizophrenia. In the end it made it easier for psychiatrists to diagnose her because I could give them her history.

You are definitely in the minority with that knowledge, and I assume you lived with your sister?
Good job you knew though, much less important things are being taught in schools.

Your weight can drop a lot if you're bulimic.

Yes but we never spent time together because we weren't on good terms. It took hearing her delusional conversation with my other sister and another with myself for me to realise she was very unwell.

I'm glad it twigged because then I could make sure she was never on her own for too long so she couldn't hurt herself. I think a lot more should be done about raising mental health awareness. 1 in 4 people will experience it over the course of a year so it makes sense to get clued up.

True - but if it drops significantly below your 'expected' weight you're anorexic...