TeenHealthFX - Answers - Does My Friend Have An Eating Disorder?

Helping Friends And Loved Ones With Their Emotional Issues / Question
Published: December 6, 1999

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I think a friend has an eating disorder. What are the signs and what should I do?

Signed: Does My Friend Have An Eating Disorder?

Dear Does My Friend Have An Eating Disorder?,

Eating disorders are severe disturbances in eating habits and are associated with psychological factors such as, depression and low self-esteem. There are several different types of eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and obesity. Often, the person with an eating disorder has a distorted body image and does not like himself/herself. The eating disorder is a way of hiding other underlying issues and personal problems that are unrelated to their weight. The person may feel out of control of their lives and their eating behaviors are something they are in total control of. Unfortunately, eating disorders among teenage women are very common and becoming more and more common among boys as well. Eating disorders are very serious because they take over the person's life and can cause physical damage to the person's body and maybe take their life.

Some signs and symptoms of an eating disorder include:

A dramatic weight loss or refusal to maintain normal body weight.
A person who says he or she is fat, but are visibly underweight.
Repeatedly gaining and losing weight.
Intense fear of gaining weight.
In women, missed periods or amenorrhea (Not getting her period at all)
Eating very small portions.
Starvation to lose weight.
The person making himself/herself vomit.
The possible presence of bruises on the knuckles or hands from induced vomiting.
Bingeing (eating a great amount of food).
Bingeing and purging (Eating a lot, then throwing up.)
Eating in private (closet eating).
Use of medications such as diet pills, enemas, laxatives, diuretics or other medications to lose weight.
Excessive exercise.
A person, who chews and spits out food, but does not swallow it.
An intense preoccupation with weight loss.
Covered mirrors in his/her living space.
An obsession with food preparation.

Medically, the eating disorder will have effects on the body that can hinder its growth and development. The teeth and throat can be damaged due to excess vomiting and the bones can become weak and break easily. In severe cases, the body's organs will not work correctly causing kidney problems and poor heart functioning, which could even lead to a heart attack.

If your friend has any of the behaviors, signs and symptoms listed here or you think she/he may have an eating disorder, talk to her/him about it. Let her/him know that you are concerned and give the person examples of their behaviors, such as "You make yourself throw up after meals.", "I have seen you take laxatives." and "You are very thin." Be honest and caring when addressing her behaviors. Your friend may react negatively and try to deny that there is a problem or they may be glad someone cared enough to notice. Whichever way they react, you are doing the right thing! Also and a very important step is for you to get an adult involved like his/her parent's, your parent's or a school nurse. The eating disordered person may get upset at you for doing this, but you cannot handle this by yourself. In fact, people with eating disorders need long-term counseling and medical supervision to overcome their disorder.

An eating disorder is a very hard disease to treat and cure so it is important for you to be there as a friend and not as the counselor or doctor. Remember, you are not responsible for your friend's actions and when people are depressed and suffering from an eating disorder, they need outside professional help.

By getting her help, you could be saving her life!

Signed: TeenHealthFX