What is the best way to approach a teenager who is possibly anorexic?

Question

She's lost a lot of weight recently and gets defensive when approached. 17y/o 5'7" weighs 95 pounds!

Answer 1

THIS IS A VERY DELICATE SUBJECT TO BROACH
YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP~~

How drastic was the weight loss. Has it continued. Does this person eat??

Please call your local mental health hotline, they will be able to advise and guide you in the right direction.

confrontation does not work. counseling and therapy is what works.

Answer 2

If the teen is not your child-ask her if she is having problems with food. If she is not willing to talk, try the parents, a councelor, her doctor, or even her pastor. If she is your kid-take her to the dr, and tellhim your concerns. A councler will be necessary. The entire family will need help-it is a life long illness. My neice is 18, and has had it for 6 years. There are good times and bad. Make your concerns be heard-it can save her life. Also, antidepressants will be used.

Answer 3

i had a friend who i anorexic too.

honesly, we cant do much about it. I, personally told her that doing such is bad, and it kills you little by little. I actually told her that eating is an essential part of human survival. But she kept on telling me that she's still fat, and juice alone can sustain her.

the best thing you can do is to try to get help from a doctor. i actualy told her mom that she needs professional help. so we went to a psychologist. upto now, my friend is having weekly sessions with the psychologist. i really dont know what did the psychologist did to her, but i can see signs of improvement.

good luck to you.

Answer 4

Anorexic? Hmmmm...lead into the topic. Don't tell them flat out that they're anorexic and that they need to eat more and stop obsessing about themselves. That won't help the situation. Talk to someone who deals with anorexic patients. Anorexics have this image of themselves; I mean that they actually have a distorted view of themselves. Compliment them to make them feel better. Soon they will start to feel better about themselves. Try it and tell me how it worked. Good luck!!

~FOO

Answer 5

Tell her that you care about her. Tell her that you dont ever want anything to happen to her and that she should live her life to the fullest! Go to france, Help with Katrina victims, see a different country. You care about her and she cant d what she is doing to herself. She wants to feel in control with her life. Tell her she is!

Answer 6

She is in denial. You need to stage an intervention. Bring her to a place where her friends & family have gathered, and express your concern. You may be able to make her see reality. Hurry up---she is in danger!

Answer 7

If you are her father watch to see what if she is eating. Offer to take her out to eat some where nice, daddy and me times. Your get her mother to do so. If she refuses, confront her, if is does not work co mitt her. I know it is tough that is you last option. You don't want her dead.

Answer 8

spike everything she eats with chocolate syrup and sugar. and for the love of carbs give the girl some PIE!!!

Answer 9

Whether you’re dealing with mild symptoms or a full-blown eating disorder, you as a parent can make a great difference in your teen’s life simply by providing information, care and protection.

Offer the teen fewer choices and less responsibility.
• Maintain clear, kind and decisive communication.
• Take a supportively confident posture; maintain parental authority.
• Talk with your teen about personal issues other than food.
• Expect participation with the family at mealtime, but don’t demand that your teen eat.
• Express honest, healthy verbal and physical affection...Don't...


• Demand weight gain or berate a teen who has an eating disorder.
• React to the teen with harshness, rigidity or anger.
• Put the teen “in charge” of the family’s well-being by making statements such as “Your illness is damaging the whole family” or “Why did this happen to me?”
• Allow your teen’s eating problem to dominate the family’s eating schedule or use of the kitchen.
• Allow the teen to cook or shop for the family, as this puts her in a nurturing role and allows her to deny her own need for food by feeding others.
• Be directly involved with the teen’s weight once she is in therapy and under a physician’s care. If a change in appearance indicates weight loss, notify the physician.
There are several things you can do, besides talking to your preteen about body changes to expect during puberty, to help prevent an eating disorder in your child:

Examine your own attitudes and behaviors regarding weight and appearance. Talk with your children about genetic differences in body types and the devastating effects of irrational prejudice.

Examine what you are modeling. Do you exhibit acceptance of yourself and take appropriate measures to deal with your body function and size, or do you practice self-condemnation, criticism of your spouse’s body, extreme dieting, etc.?

Examine your dreams and goals for your children and other loved ones. Are you overemphasizing physical appearance and body shape, especially for girls?

Don’t shame or ridicule your child (verbally or nonverbally). Parents who do can send your child careening toward an eating disorder. Children need to know they are loved unconditionally. And since feeling helpless and out of control is common among eating-disordered individuals, stability and healthy relationships within families are extremely importance.

Be aware of the messages you send about the“chubby child” in your family. Do you communicate, through words and action, positive or negative feelings about his or her value, talents, and lovability?

Don’t encourage or force your children to diet. It can actually push your kids toward unhealthy eating patterns that last a lifetime. The best approach is to simply provide balanced, nutritious meals.

Be involved and offer appropriate direction. Abdicating your parental role by offering your children too little direction can also be just as damaging as controlling to tightly. It can leave children feeling left adrift.

Don't say things that make your child feel responsible for your well-being or the well-being of others in the family.

Help to develop your teen's critical thinking skills by talking about celebrities whose lives are dysfunctional and filled with problems in spite of having the "perfect" body. Or do some research on how magazine photos are airbrushed and how movies use "body doubles." Young people who realize that "perfection" is not always what it seems are better able to establish realistic standards for themselves.

Avoid categorizing foods as “good” or “bad.”

Be a good role model by eating sensibly, using exercise as a path to good health and enjoyment.

Do not avoid activities (such as swimming, water skiing, etc.) because they call attention to your size and shape.

Do whatever you can to encourage your teenager’s self-respect based on intellectual, spiritual, athletic and social endeavors.

Practice complimenting people for what they say, feel and do—not for how thin they are.

Help your family become discerning regarding media messages that imply a slender body means happiness and success.

Look at what's wrong with the message "thin is best" rather than focusing on what's wrong with your body.

Use caution when exposing high-risk teens to anti-eating disorder materials. Books, documentaries and pamphlets warning against disordered eating have often been used by anorexics and bulimics as how-to guides.

If you suspect your teen is already developing an eating disorder, seek help immediately. Early detection and treatment can be very important, so consult with a qualified medical or mental health professional right away.

Answer 10

I would approach their parents first.