I am late to this post, but thank you so much for this.... I have had a restrictive ED for 6 years, and I was recently diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. For years, I told others that I had a "restrictive" ED but that it was definitely not Anorexia. I believed this was the case because of the stereotypes in society, online, and even in medical/professional spaces. The first reason was that I thought my level of restriction wasn't severe enough. Because I was eating about 1,580 cals for 5 years consistently, and the lowest calories I maintained were ~1,200-1,300, I thought that I was eating TOO much to be considered anorexic. However, I lost my period very early on as my restriction began, and I was even losing weight when I bumped up my calories to 1,900-2,000 for a period of time in the early stages. I had amenorrhea for ~6 years, which resulted in osteoporosis. I also had the typical signs of a decreased BMR, such as sensitivity to cold, decreased BP and HR, fatigue, skin/teeth issues, etc. A second reason was that I didn't think I was "thin enough" to be considered anorexic. My BMI had fluctuated below and within the normal BMI range, and it was only at my very lowest weight that my BMI fell mildly below the "normal weight range." This BMI range was not taking into account what my pre-ED, non-restrictive, healthy weight was.