What should I do if I don’t like to eat?
Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
– Written by
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.
– Updated on September 7, 2025
Question
I am 26 years old, 6’3″ tall and weigh 134 pounds. I eat once a day, generally dinner. When I was younger I was naturally skinny. However, around my teen years I basically stopped eating. I have been this way for about 11 years. I don’t do it for any particular reason other than I just don’t like to eat.
I had a grand mal seizure in 2005 that I think could have been due to my lack of eating and I just about passed out the other day while driving; I immediately pulled over and called my dad to let him know my location in case it was another seizure. He told me he was concerned and told me to start eating or go see a doctor.
The problem is I feel fine for the most part when I don’t eat, and eating is more like a chore for me. What kind of doctor should I go see? A dietitian? I understand I need help, after all, I am a truck driver and would hate for something to happen to where I lose my job, or worse.
Thanks.
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Answer
In my opinion, I believe that you should see your Medical Doctor, explain all of your symptoms and have a complete medical check up done on you, complete with blood and urine tests. One never knows what may cause symptoms even when it may “seem” obvious.
If the results of the medical check up are that you are in good health, other than being under-weight, you need to do a number of things:
You need to:
1. Enter psychotherapy with a psychologist or clinical social worker who are expert in treating eating disorders.
2. Consult a nutritionist who is expert and experienced in treating eating disorders.
3. My guess is that the therapist or your medical doctor will refer you to a psychiatrist to get you onto medication to encourage you to eat more.
4. Somewhere along the line you may enter an eating disorders group therapy program.
All of this does not need to happen all at once but you do need to get started.
My guess would be that, before you have had a complete medical exam, you have Anorexia Nervosa. In effect, you are starving your self to death, whether you know it or not. In any case, this is a very serious issue for you and, to protect your health and life, you must see your doctor immediately.
Good Luck
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Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a somatic psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in clinical psychology and neuropsychology.
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. is a medical writer with more than 30 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He writes on a wide range of mental health topics, including mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, trauma, abuse, stress, and relationship challenges.
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Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
– Written by
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.
– Updated on September 7, 2025
Additional Reading
The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience. They actively contribute to the development of content, products, and services, and meticulously review all medical material before publication to ensure accuracy and alignment with current research and conversations in mental health. For more information, please visit the Editorial Policy.
We are a health technology company that guides people toward self-understanding and connection. The platform provides reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities. Its purpose is to educate, support, and empower people in their pursuit of well-being.