Liarexia is used for those who binge when in company but reduce their portions when eating alone. Unfortunately, it seems most liarexics are women.
Eating small portions can result in the “anorexia” tag, so in public, women are eating healthy portions but then starving themselves privately. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, who “adores fried food” and Victoria Beckham, who “eats like a horse” are some glaring examples of liarexics.
Unfortunately, many youngsters in the city can relate to such a behaviour. Like Asheta Suresh from OU, who loves binging with friends, but terms it as her love for food.
Rachel Israel from Little Flower Junior College says, “I do exactly that! For a tomboy like me, it’s difficult not to eat a pastry or a chicken burger when I am with my guy friends. But at home my sister keeps telling me to avoid these foods and I feel I should watch what I eat.” Apparently, it’s mostly girls who are socially conscious about what they eat. The boys, as usual are off the hook. Luqmaan Taha from GRIET says, “Only when there’s something tasty on the menu, I eat at least twice as much and feel guilty that there won’t be any left for the others.” But on the whole, he doesn’t restrict his dietary habits, whether alone or in company.
All said and done, it is important to realise when a friend has a genuine Liarexic problem. After all, its better to not have that extra bowl of chips than to be starving on a bowl of clear soup for the rest of the night.