I have an anorexic friend?

Question

i have a colombian friend. shes 13 and if u look at her from the side, her stomach is like 2 inches wide. but all of a sudden she dusnt eat at lunch, dusnt eat breakfast, and has already lost 5 pounds in a week. what do i do?

Answer 1

Watching your friend starve herself must be difficult to say the least - a person you care about is hurting themselves and you are forced to remain on the sidelines fighting your impulse to say ``just eat!'' Remember that anorexia is not a simple condition, and while food seems like the enemy, the disease is rarely about food.

Anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that seriously threatens the health through self-imposed starvation, occurs almost exclusively in females and most commonly begins during adolescence or early adulthood. Signs of anorexia

include severe weight loss, unusual eating habits, social isolation, extreme physical activity, extreme sensitivity to cold and in later stages, an increased growth of body hair.

On the surface the person may seem to be the model child but behind the mask is often an insecure, self-critical perfectionist. People who develop this disorder may be influenced by psychological problems, such as the fear of growing up, subconscious rebellion against parents whose standards are too high or social pressures taken to an extreme level.

In some studies, the prevalence of anorexia has reported to be as high as 1 in 90 adolescent girls. The severity of the condition varies greatly, and for your friend the condition may remit spontaneously after a few weeks or months, or it can become a chronic lifelong struggle that often results in severe physical debilitation or death unless adequate treatment is obtained.

There are things you can do as a friend, but we can't guarantee any of them will be immediately successful. First, try getting your friend to talk to a trusted adult or guidance counselor. You may want to accompany her the first couple of times for support.

If she refuses to see a professional, consider calling her parents if you feel they are unaware of the problem. This will be hard, but keep in mind that you won't be betraying your friend. Instead, you may be saving her life because her parents probably have the resources and power to get immediate professional help.

If neither of these approaches works, keep in mind that what happens or what doesn't happen is not your fault. Ultimately your friend is the one who has the problem and at times, the most you can do is be there for her even when she doesn't want you to be there. Reassure your friend that you love her for who she is - not for who others want her to be. Your friend is lucky to have someone who cares.

Note: If you need information about eating disorders, questions about where to go for help or even want a speaker to come to your school, contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc., at [phone]. MEMO: Smitha Gottimukkala is a 1995 graduate of Norfolk Academy. Jonathan Kolm

Answer 2

While a lot of people like to say "it's no big deal" and whatnot, these things should ALWAYS be taken seriously. Talk to her about it, and if she refuses to relent, get her to see a doctor. A regular MD is good to determine if this is a life-threatening situation, however, long-term she'll need to see a psychiatrist who deals with mental/emotional issues to resolve the underlying problem.

Answer 3

She needs to go see a doctor right away. This is a serious condition that can lead to death if left untreated.

Answer 4

Tell someone close to her like her parents before it gets to late anorexia can lead to health problems and even death

Answer 5

u could tell her that a good figure would hardly do her good when she will develop dark circles under her eyes.
tell her to be confident of what she is instead of striving to be like those supermodels.

Answer 6

well i used too be a anorexic 3 years ago i mose dead but i got better and getting well now but you should talk too her or something.

Answer 7

yea i will have to agree yall need to have a little talk...if she doesn't want to listen talk to your mom about the situation

Answer 8

ya she needs a doctor

first answer is really funny but also inappropriate

Answer 9

I think you should have her see a doctor.

Answer 10

sounds hot to me