@papayalily It really has nothing to do with how much someone eats in a day. It’s all about the mental state. I’m not sure if it’s textbook anorexia, but from what I personally struggled with and watched other girls struggle with, anorexia is hating what you look like the point where your physical need to eat isn’t as important as your mental need to look “better”. I felt guilty every time I put something in my mouth, and looking in mirrors was equivalent with torture because the reflection was never good enough. To this day, sometimes I think, “If only I was strong enough to stop eating again.” Anorexia is tying your self worth with your ability to control your body’s need to eat.
Your example describes my father—who frequently forgets to eat but isn’t anorexic. However, if I remember correctly, it also describes a favorite blogger of mine from a couple years ago that couldn’t get away with not eating dinner with her family.
You’re right about the fact that we can never get information about mild cases of anorexia. It really is an epidemic, and I know this because I was a part of it. Mild to moderate anorexia is everywhere and I’m sure they’ve found a new place to congregate since Xanga shut them down. I knew girls that described anorexia (they call her Ana) as a person whom they had to be loyal to in order to have self-worth.
There are thousands of people with anorexia that need help but will never get it because they will never be diagnosed as “sick”.