"How Are You Feeling?" How To Talk To A Friend About Eating Disorder Concerns
One cannot be certain an individual has an eating disorder solely by their appearance.
In fact, several signs of disordered eating may be viewed by some people as normal behavior—for example, runners adhere to strict workout regimens and people with diabetes often need to eat at specific times.
It is not one or several habits that make an eating disorder diagnosis, but the severity and frequency of the habits. Even then, the only person qualified to diagnose an individual with an eating disorder is a qualified medical professional.
It is through this lens that advice should be given to family and friends whose loved ones may be struggling with an eating disorder.
One of my coworkers—a woman I had been working with a woman for several months—spoke frequently about what new fad diet she was on or how much weight she wanted to lose in a week. We'd take a break around 5pm and she'd say “I'm so hungry; I haven't eaten all day.” This went on for a few weeks until one afternoon, when I noticed that she looked fatigued and her hands were trembling.
“Are you feeling OK?” I asked. “Your hands are shaking.”
“Just fine,” she replied. “Maybe I'm just a little dehydrated.”
Nothing more was said...
It is not one or several habits that make an eating disorder diagnosis, but the severity and frequency of the habits. Even then, the only person qualified to diagnose an individual with an eating disorder is a qualified medical professional.
It is through this lens that advice should be given to family and friends whose loved ones may be struggling with an eating disorder.
One of my coworkers—a woman I had been working with a woman for several months—spoke frequently about what new fad diet she was on or how much weight she wanted to lose in a week. We'd take a break around 5pm and she'd say “I'm so hungry; I haven't eaten all day.” This went on for a few weeks until one afternoon, when I noticed that she looked fatigued and her hands were trembling.
“Are you feeling OK?” I asked. “Your hands are shaking.”
“Just fine,” she replied. “Maybe I'm just a little dehydrated.”
Nothing more was said...
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