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Eating Disorders

What should I do about an eating disorder?

11/30/2006

Question:

I just recently discovered that my sister has an eating disorder. She left an e-mail open about her anerexia, and i found it today. My sister and i are very close. We`re only four years apart and we tell eachother everything. I feel like i should have known. I mean, her email said that she has struggled with anerexia off and on for years and that it comes and goes. But she has been dropping a lot of weight in the past few months. I mean a lot of weight. I`ve noticed but i never thought of an eating disorder. Im 16, and i really dont know what to do. I want to help her soooo bad, but i dont know how to. I`ve learned about eating disorders at school, but shes my sister. So for the past two hours i`ve been researching websites on what i should do. And looking for a website where i can ask my question. If you have any help for me please write back, thank you so much.

Answer:

I do not know if your sister is older or younger than you. It makes it harder if you are 16, and she is older, and you want to help your older sister.

To let her symptoms get worse will help no one.  Would you tell your sister you are concerned if she sprained her ankle, and it was swollen?  Then use the same concern to tell her that you are noticing she has been losing weight to the point of looking ill and that you are very concerned about her.  Tell her you want her to get an assessment for her eating disorder in the same way you would tell her you want her to get her ankle checked out if she were limping on it for days from a sprain. 

The best national website to get information and referrals is through the National Eating Disorders Association.  If you sister lives in Central Ohio, the specialized clinic that provides assessments is The Center for Eating Disorders on OSU/Harding's north campus in Worthington. Its website is http://www.centerforeatingdisorders.org/

You could come yourself to the free support groups for family members to get face to face support for your sister, and then if she is willing to go for support there is a support group for persons with anorexia, one for bulimia, and one for binge eating.

Hope that helps.

For more information:

Go to the Eating Disorders health topic, where you can:

Response by:

The Ohio State University Laura Hill, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University
Laura Hill, PhD