text: they say that if you starve yourself that just makes more fat and you'll actually gain more weight, but... then why are anorexic people skinny?? health advice says not eating will actually cause your cells to trap fat instead of making you lose it.. but why are all anorexic people skinny? what's the real truth about 'starving' youself? when you starve yourself your body goes into "starvation" mode, and it does hang on to the fat. but starving yourself is quite relative. anorexics don't just starve...they exercise, purge, throw up, etc. overweight people usually have a very hard time losing weight. anorexics are usually not overweight to begin with...they just "see" themselves that way.