Worried someone has an eating disorder
What is an eating disorder?
The term eating disorder is used to describe a group of illnesses where a person has a distorted view of body shape and weight and extreme disturbances in eating behaviour. There are a number of different eating disorders - Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. For more information about the different eating disorders, you may want to check out the factsheets on the right hand side of the page.
Helping someone you think has an eating disorder
Helping someone who is not ready to change their behaviour may be difficult and the decision for them to get help is ultimately theirs. If you are worried about someone, you may want to speak with a person whom you trust about your concerns. This may be a family member, teacher, youth worker or a professional such as a counsellor or nutritionist.
Speaking with an organisation who specialises in eating disorders may also be helpful. Check out the links on the left to find the names and contact details for some of these organisations.
It may be a good idea to talk with the person you are concerned about. Letting them know that you are open to listening to them, without being judgmental, may help to make them more open to discussing what is going on.
If you approach the person you are concerned about, it may be helpful to remember that you are talking to them as their friend and not a therapist. Several other things you may want to consider include:
Choosing when to talk
Timing can be an important part of talking to someone about sensitive stuff. If possible, try to choose a time when everyone is relaxed. Try to avoid talking with them during an argument. If you talk to them during an aggressive or defensive moment you may end up getting a bad reaction and distancing them.
Be informed
It is a good idea to have general knowledge of some of the characteristics of eating disorders. By doing this you may be able to better understand the reasons for the reactions you may receive. For example, denial and a belief that they are fat is one of the characteristics of eating disorders. It is not uncommon, therefore, for those who are experiencing an eating disorder to become angry and not want to talk or listen to you. Being informed may help you to deal better with their reactions.
Offer your support
It can be scary when you realise you need help. Knowing you have a friend you can trust may be helpful. Let the person you are worried about know that when they are ready to get help you can help them find someone to talk to and go with them. That person may be a counsellor, psychologist or local doctor. You may want to check out the Getting help section of the site for more information about how these people can help.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the Nutrition Australia for editing this factsheet.
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2 Comments
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jacob_ross
12 months ago
Reply ReportEating disorder treatment is for anyone who is suffering from an eating problem. Some common eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia. Although you may not understand how you developed this disorder, it is important to understand that we can help. Your disorder is a mental and physical condition that can take a devastating toll on your mind and body. You may be suffering from various symptoms and not even be aware that they are being caused by your disorder.
Edited by moderator 12 months ago
Alphabet
about 1 month ago
Reply ReportI also think a good thing to remember is that sometimes when talking to a friend/sibling that has an eating disorder, its really important to remember that they can come across as angry or defensive or may attack you personally and whilst that can be hard, i find it good to remember that it can often be their disorder talking not necessarily your friend/sibling.