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Eating
Disorders: Helping a Friend
Being a friend to someone with an eating disorder can sometimes be very
challenging. It is normal to feel frustrated, worried and scared for your
friend, especially if s/he isn’t able to admit that there is a serious problem.
Being secretive about eating and exercising is a common characteristic of an
individual with an eating disorder, and you may feel that you have to watch over
your friend to make sure s/he is taking care of her/himself. The truth is that
you have very limited influence on your friend’s eating habits, and it is
ultimately her/his decision about what and how s/he eats. This is not to say
that you should give up on or reject your friend who has an eating disorder.
People who have sought treatment for an eating disorder often emphasize how
important the ongoing support of their friends and family was to their eventual
recovery. They say that having friends who both continued to believe in them,
and also to relate to them beyond just their eating disorder was crucial in
their taking steps toward health.
Should I say something to my friend?
Perhaps the first thing you may ask yourself if you know someone who you
suspect has an eating disorder is whether or not you should confront the issue.
Ask yourself about your relationship with that person. If it is someone you know
only casually (e.g. an acquaintance in a class, someone you see only at the gym)
you are probably not the right person to confront that individual. If you are
concerned about someone who is a friend, however, it is important to speak to
her or him. Talking to your friend shows that you care enough to say something,
even if your friend has difficulty hearing or accepting your concern. Remember
that denial of any problem with food is a psychological defense that helps your
friend keep her/his real pain tucked away and out of conscious awareness. Eating
disorders serve the function of distracting the individual from deeper emotional
issues. An eating disorder is a way of coping, and your friend may not be ready
to relinquish the sense of control, power or emotional relief that s/he gets
from his or her symptoms (e.g. restricting, binging/ purging, exercising). It is
important not to interpret your friend’s denial as a personal rejection. Though
s/he may resist your efforts, it is still essential to confront your friend in a
supportive way and offer to assist her/him in getting help. Ignoring the problem
contributes to the secretiveness and denial that is part of the disorder; this
may lead to serious health consequences. Many people with eating disorders
initially seek treatment not entirely of their own choosing, but because others
have raised the issue and urged them to seek help.
How to Speak to Your Friend
The following are some tips to consider in confronting your friend who has an
eating disorder:
- Pick a time to talk to your friend when there will be no distractions or
interruptions. Avoid speaking to her/him about the eating disorder at meal
time, or during an argument. Also avoid confronting your friend right before
a break in the semester, as this prevents both of you from being able to
follow up with a discussion at a later point.
- Express your concerns directly and sincerely, but avoid criticism or
judgment. Use “I statements” in which you express your concern about how
your friend’s health and well-being are being affected (e.g. "I’m worried
about you, because along with losing weight you also seem sad lately.”)
- Educate yourself about eating disorders. Realizing that you can’t solve
your friend’s problem, and understanding that eating disorders are not just
about food will help you to better understand your friend’s struggle. See
Eating Disorders Sheet
- Have available resources for treatment. If s/he is willing to see a
counselor on campus, have the phone number of the Counseling Center
available to call for an appointment. Offer to accompany her/him to the
Health Services Building, but respect his or her privacy if s/he wishes to
go alone.
- Be prepared for her/him to deny that there is a problem, and/or to
become tearful or angry. Know that you are doing the right thing in talking
to your friend, and tell him or her that you continue to be concerned. Your
words may “plant a seed” which may help your friend to get treatment even if
s/he isn’t receptive at the time.
- Offer your continued friendship, support and patience.
- Don’t promise to keep secrets about the eating disorder, or promise not
to tell anyone who would assist your friend in getting treatment.
- Talk to a counselor about your own feelings regarding the situation.
How to be supportive if your friend is in treatment
If your friend is in treatment for an eating disorder, there are many ways to
be supportive. Most importantly, continue to be a friend to him or her. Point
out your friend’s positive qualities and strengths that do not have to do with
how s/he looks or how thin s/he is. Comments about weight and appearance, even a
compliment that s/he looks “healthy,” can be misconstrued.
Don’t try to monitor your friend’s food behavior or force her/him to eat.
Make it a point to schedule time to do things together other than around meals.
Many people with eating disorders become very anxious, and self-conscious in
dining halls, restaurants or other places where people are eating. Eating in a
relaxed way, and without apology can help your friend feel more comfortable when
you are together in food situations. You may find that you become overly focused
on your own eating habits in reaction to your friend’s preoccupation with food
and weight. Avoid making negative comments about your weight or body, or getting
into detailed discussions about food.
If you have a friend who recently started treatment for an eating disorder,
you may be concerned by a lack of visible progress. It is important to keep in
mind that the contributing causes of an eating disorder develop over time, and
recovery does not occur overnight. Improvement in symptoms is important, but is
not the only gauge that treatment is helping.
What to do if you continue to be concerned about your friend
If you are still worried about your friend or would like more support in
helping her/him, the Counseling Center is available for consultation about how
to handle the situation. Consultations with the Counseling Center are free and
confidential. Depending on the level of concern, the psychologist might suggest
you inform someone (e.g. administrator, parents) who can take action to directly
address the problem. The psychologist will help you to determine what can be
done to help your friend, and is available to provide support for you as well.
Appointments can be made by calling (610) 519-4050 or stopping by Room 206,
Health Services Building.
See related page on Eating Disorders
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or reprinted without permission of Villanova Counseling Center.
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