Help and Advice relating to Eating Disorders
How can I be supportive when eating with a friend or family member with an eating disorder?
Sharing a meal with someone struggling with an eating disorder can be very difficult and at times uncomfortable. It is important for you to remember that it is not your job to resolve your friend’s eating disorder. It would, however, be enormously supportive instead, to provide company for him or her at meals and to quietly model normal eating while you are together. During mealtime it is most supportive to refrain from conversation about eating behaviors, specific dietary needs, caloric values of foods, fitness routines, and shape, weight or appearance. If your friend or loved one shares his or her eating disorder struggles with you, it would be comforting for them to simply know that you are listening, that you care and that you would be open to hearing ways that you might be most supportive or helpful.
What if my daughter, son, or friend refuses treatment but I know she or he desperately needs it?
Not only do eating disorders interfere with one’s ability to be present and engaged in one’s life, these devastating conditions have the highest death rate of all psychiatric illnesses. To this end, all efforts possible must be taken to intervene. If your child is under age, it is your responsibility not listen to your child’s eating disorder (which may at times feel as though it is taking over the home), but rather to take action to get him/her into treatment. When it comes to a friend or a loved one of age, an intervention with the support of other close friends and/or family members may need to take place to motivate, support, and encourage treatment. If you have concerns about someone you care about, it is best to consult with a professional for guidance.