My boyfriend is underweight for his height. When he was about 3 years, he had a tapeworm (he used to be a chubby baby before this, but then, what children arn't?). But know at 19, he blames that on his weight problems. He doesnt eat propper cooked meals, as his mother rarely cook. It just seems to be ready meals or bars or chocolate. (She eats in the work canteen). I think hes lernt that he will only when he needs to eat, and if there happens to be alot of food in the house he'll eat it all at once, for example, i once saw him eat 8 large sasuage rolls, a family pack of snack size cholate bars, 3 packets of crisps and 2 chocolate youghurts then didnt eat for a couple of days as there wasnt any food left, Or he will have to drive somwhere eg, mcdonnalds to provide for himself. My parents have noticed, and have started to buy extra groceries and invite him round for food. But sometimes even then, he wont eat as he says "hes already eaten" and when i ask, all he's had is a ham sandwhich.
Update:Your probably thinking, cant he cook his own food, or buy his own shopping. He's done this and his mum had a problem with this and accused him of thinking that she "wasnt a decent mother". She is a very respectable woman though, she doesnt smoke, and they all have a wealthy life, with posh cars, no mortage, get professional builders into do there DIY and has designer clothing. (her husband and boyfriends father works abroad earning alot each year). So theres really no excuse why she cannot put food on the table. I must add, my boyfriend is paying rent/maintanace and does jobs for her? Do u think his problem may have stemmed from her never providing what he needs?
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If he is not used to large proper meals then maybe he feels full really quickly I wouldnt say he has an eating disorder more like a habit of eating crap food....explain to him you are worried he eats too much rubbish and needs to eat more healthily...problem is if his mum never cooked proper meals for him it's what he is used to....be gentle and patient but gradually coax him eating better cooked meals, like telling him the night before he comes to you for dinner to only have a small lunch (at lunch tme!) as your mum will be cooking for you all.......see how it goes!
It sounds like his mother didn't ever really feed him at all. He's gorging himself and then not eating for days at a time. That's behavior typical of people who are starving. He may just think that's normal, having grown up with it. You need to talk to him about trying regular meals for just a month. You can develop a habit in 21 days. Either way, it's not healthy. The tape worm is not what's doing this. That's ridiculous. He's got some issues, and I'm not sure that seeing a doctor or a psych wouldn't be out-of-line.
I'll answer this from my heart i do the same i can go 5 days without eating then eat loads of junk but i don't have an eating disorder and if i have no one has said anything to me about it try not to worry about him he may have just gotten in to a routine with his eating but if you are really worried about him sit him down and talk to him if he doesn't want to talk to force him to just let him know your there for him when he needs it. The fact that he's now getting invited for tea at yours may help as he then knows that he is going to get good healthily food he will love that too and maybe stop eating like you say e has been. Hope that I've helped Good Luck.If he doesn't talk straight away stick by him he will open up if there's a problem OK
His mother is mentally ill. If she is unable to provide food and other things your boyfriend needs, then she is messed up. She has laid a guilt trip on him about getting food for himself. Her reaction to his buying food is definitely not one a sane mother would give. Her response is actually something you'd expect from someone who already thinks she isn't doing a good job raising her kids.
Your boyfriend likely has severe anxiety issues related to food. For him to eat every scrap of food in the house and then leave himself with nothing, he is likely eating the food as an anxiety response -- fear that he won't have enough to eat. It is a cycle that just goes on and on. He's anxious the food won't be there later when he's hungry, so he eats everything. But that leaves him nothing to eat, giving credence to his worry that there won't be enough food.
They both need counseling, and I would suggest you stop dating this guy. He's got a lot of problems right now and it's not up to you to fix them. Please don't make the mistake that most girls make. "Lost puppy syndrome" is what I call it, but counselors call it co-dependency. Basically, you do not have a healthy relationship with your boyfriend. If he gets counseling, he's going to have to learn not to lean on you in any way, and often that is what attracts a gal to a guy like him: they think, "I can fix this", when in fact they are in over their heads. You can't force someone to become something they are not.
It's not your job to get this family help. If your boyfriend refuses to seek help, then you are better off without him. I know that sounds cruel, but would you like being married to someone that you have to take care of as if he were a kid? Having children need you is hard enough. Being in a relationship with a man who has to lean on you for everything is not a positive thing.
He is only young, most blokes stay thin until about 30. I dont think he has an eating disorder, My husband is at work all day and sometimes he doesnt have any tea and on other days he will eat like a horse but i dont think he has a problem.
He is malnourished and if you take him on like this, then you will have to nourish him properly with nice fat dinners at your mums house.
He sounds like he binges, and then can live on sweets for days.
He is only young, so he is not beyond help.
Get him into home made thick icecream milkshakes with fresh fruit, carbs like pasta & potato and high protein foods.
he seems to be a binge eater...Just give him vitamins and cook some delicious nutritious meals......
Or are you implying he may still have tape worm? If thats the case look up tape worm symptoms and he he falls in th category then go see a Doctor !!
It sounds like he does have some kind of binge eating disorder. It's hard to get women, let alone men, to open up about this type of problem. Don't pressure him, but let him know you're concerned and see if he wants some help.
Maybe he just eats when he feels like it or he gets shy to eat in front of other people. Maybe you the only one he feels he can eat in front of.
i will say he is what we call a " binge"
and he can also be depress due to the poor relationship he has with his mother
here is a link were u can find out for sure:
http://www.something-fishy.org/