How can I encourage my friend to eat?

Question

We have lunch together a lot and she never even oprders food. I spent a week with her at camp adn she barely ate anything. She says she has no appitite anymore and this could be caused by stress in her life. i think she wants to control something in her life so she chose food. How do i encourage her to eat without seeming like I am taking control?

Answer 1

bring her something she absolutely loves to eat and cannot turn down. what is her favorite food? is it cheesecake? peanut butter cups? lasagna? whatever it is, she'll have a very hard time resisting it for very long if you persist.

Answer 2

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. And you hit the nail right on the head. I had a lot of stress in my life that I couldn't control so it was easy for me to control what I ate-or didn't. I, however, realized that I had a problem. I went to work everyday, cooked, cleaned, college, took care of everything just like everything was normal. I realized that I was getting thin, but not how thin untill I had a date one night. I went to get dressed. I had bought a nice blouse about a month and a half ago that I hadn't had a chance to wear. It was form fitting and when I put it on you could count my ribs threw the shirt and my collarbones stuck out hiddiously. I went on my date, in a different shirt. On Monday morning I went to work early and talked to my human resource director who helped me look into a couple different options that I had to get some help. I'm 5'1 and weighed about 95 lbs and had been shopping in the childrens department. All you can really do for your friend is let her know that your concerned. Tell her that if theres anything besides the food thing that she would like to talk about that your listening. If she has health insurance she can go to her family doctor who can refer her to someone. Let her know that she is risking her health by choosing not to eat. If shes under age, and the two of you are good friends talk to her parents. She'll hate you for all of this now but thank you later. For me its two years later. I had to work hard to gain weight b/c my body was so battered. I had an ulcer and was sick all the time. My body was so weak that I bumped my leg and damaged my perenial nerve ( runs up and down your leg ) and wasn't able to move my foot for a long time. Now I've leveled out my weight around 115 and I feel so much better. I'm not tired or sick all the time. Let her know that there are places she can go and things that she can do to get rid of the stress in her life. Sometimes it means making difficult decisions and telling people no. Let her know that you back her 110%. Good luck.

Answer 3

Well in my past I was an anorisic. Someone told me that if I don't start eating I will lose one of my limbs.. I tell ya, it worked for me.
See I was like that.. yes to control something in my life, and also when I was sad. I ate one sandwich a WEEk

Now it worked so badly on me that when I am depressed or sad I grab a bag of chips, and anything else.. I ended up 75pounds overweight.
Sounds like she also has some eating disorder .. I'd tell her, which is true, she will lose an arm or leg if she don't start eating.. then just let it be.. good chances are it will really play on her mind.. she 'will' eat.

Answer 4

Your friend may have an eating disorder. I have watched two friends in my life go through this, and trust me, it is not something you are going to fix by encouraging her to eat. If she is seriously not eating, then you should tell a family member of hers in confidence (meaning tell them what is going on but ask them to not to tell your friend that you contacted them). Only her family will have the power to ensure she seeks professional medical help. There is very little you can do yourself. You are not betraying her by telling her family. In fact, that is best thing you can do as a friend, if you truly care about her. The sooner she gets help, the more likely she is to recover.

Answer 5

My sister was anorexic in high school and it sounds like your friend is heading in that direction. The thing that helped my sister was hearing a lady named Paula White talk about her battle with anorexia. She was never the same after that. Check out the link below to her book. You could try giving her the book to read. That would be a very nonconfrontational way to try and help. Hope your friend gets the help she needs.

Answer 6

You cannot do anything to make her eat. Her problems stem more deeply than you think, she needs professional help, that is what you can do for her talk to her parants and whoever to get her the help she needs, you sound like a good friend, good luck and God Bless.

Answer 7

Tell her that she really needs to eat and that you're worried about. Keep reminding her that you care, and that if she needs anything at all, you're there for her and you'd like to help her out. Try taking her out to eat, ordering her favorite food. My best friend would always order my favorite food and split it with me so that I'd eat something. Just gently push her, but remind her that you're her friend and you're there for her and you just want what's best for her.

Answer 8

Get some pot and either smoke it with her or feed it to her in some brownies or other food. It will give her the munchies. If she looks good and not sick from not eating leave her alone. People meet for lunch to be social not always to eat.

Answer 9

ask her if she thinks she has a problem, and if she doesn't see it as a problem, then you wont be able to do much, but if she admits that there is an issue, she need to seek professional help, she wont hear your suggestions, dont take it personally

Answer 10

tell her that she needs to eat and you feel worried
tell her to eat in a jokin matter that if she doesnt eat then your not meeting her anymore
give her favorite food