How to Talk to A Loved One About Eating Disorders
The last week of February marks Eating Disorder Awareness Week. follow up on our conversation last week about how to talk to your child about eating disorders, this week we’re addressing eating disorders in adults and how to talk to a loved one if you’re concerned they might be developing an eating disorder.
Eating disorders do not discriminate based on age, gender, ethnicity, or race. They affect people of all different backgrounds.
According to ANAD, 28.8 million Americans (or 9%) will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders are among the most deadly mental illnesses, second to only opioid overdose – 10,200 deaths happen each year as a result of eating disorders, which equates to one death every 52 minutes.
What is an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are serious, complex and even life-threatening mental illnesses. They are characterized by disturbances in behavior surrounding food and eating habits. There are several types of eating disorders, including binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder. It’s important to research and understand all the signs and symptoms of the various types of eating disorders.
If you’re concerned about your loved one developing an eating disorder or you’ve noticed disturbing behaviors surrounding food intake, hear from our clinician Kate Mullins on what to do in that situation.
How would you communicate with your friend or loved one if you were concerned they had developed an eating disorder?
A big part of why eating disorders are dangerous is because they often go under the radar, and the diet culture we live in will praise the behaviors. The only way people are able to acknowledge and disclose that they are struggling with food, is if they feel safe with the person, and believe they will not be judged. It’s important to stay away from judgmental statements, such as, “should you really be eating that way? or “that’s not the right way to do that!” Stay calm while bringing up your concerns with a loved one. Be curious and ask open-ended questions, such as “I’ve noticed you’ve been eating differently lately, is there any particular reason why?”
If they deny or deflect your concerns, you may have still planted an important seed. They may need more time and space to reflect on their relationship with food, before getting to a place where they can ask for help. If you believe that the situation has progressed to a point where your loved one is not safe, contact the Eating Disorders Helpline. You can speak with a professional who can offer more tangible and concrete advice about what next steps to take.
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline
At the end of the day, an eating disorder develops because of an unmet need, and that person
is coping with food and movement to meet the need. The journey of recovery is about finding
out what you need and identifying new ways to cope. Clients may need to grieve who they
thought they would be, before finding and accepting themselves. It takes courage, and a village
- and I’m beyond honored to support clients as they do that work.
If you are concerned about your friend or a loved one developing an eating disorder, please reach out to us. Our team of therapists is here to provide support and guidance. We look forward to connecting with you.
