[Overmars]

I have this place I go to every day to take part in sports. There is a girl there has obviously got anorexia. Now I am wondering if people should say something and if so then how?

[eskielover]

That's a tough one.....not easy to approach someone you don't really know about something as sensitive & personal as anorexia & expect them to be open with you about it. Usually people are in denial in the first place.....not sure you would really get anywhere with the person anyway.

You might just start to taking to her & in conversation bring up something about what you eat for breakfast, lunch & dinner & see what she says about her own eating habits so you can see if she is actually anorexic or just has a metabolism that is so high no food goes to weight. There are more reasons for being thin than just having anorexia.....but it is the most obvious thought for being thin.

Good luck with this.....I know you are just trying to be helpful.....not sure just how well that desire will work in reality.

[surviving15]

Hi:

I agree with Eskielover, the approach should be careful in a way she doesn't misunderstand your intention to help. It's great what you're doing. Good luck!!

[Overmars]

Originally Posted by eskielover

That's a tough one.....not easy to approach someone you don't really know about something as sensitive & personal as anorexia & expect them to be open with you about it. Usually people are in denial in the first place.....not sure you would really get anywhere with the person anyway.

You might just start to taking to her & in conversation bring up something about what you eat for breakfast, lunch & dinner & see what she says about her own eating habits so you can see if she is actually anorexic or just has a metabolism that is so high no food goes to weight. There are more reasons for being thin than just having anorexia.....but it is the most obvious thought for being thin.

Good luck with this.....I know you are just trying to be helpful.....not sure just how well that desire will work in reality.

Thank you for the reply. I am gathering currage for this.

I agree with the above advice. I've been anorexic almost my whole life. I am very used to people inquiring. And I am also pretty stand offish about it. If someone starts to seem too curious, I just back away from them. It's really hard to help someone with this when you don't know them well. I'm not trying to discourage you from trying to help, just be careful about your approach.

If someone starts talking to me about what they ate, I'll listen but I won't respond back in turn. If someone directly asks me what I ate, I will lie. Because I have been questioned like that for so long, I learnt to lie about it or be vague to keep anyone from continuing to ask.

Good luck. I think just talking about food casually would give you some insight. What to do after you think you might know? That I don't know.

[unaluna]

why don't you just try talking to her like a regular person? I don't think a person needs a stranger to point out that they have an obvious physical or mental condition. Would you say, hey did you realize you're blind, or fat, or short, or tall, or have Down syndrome? No, you would talk about the game you're playing, or the weather, or something like that. You wouldn't talk about food unless maybe you were friends having a meal together.

Hankster has a good point... maybe you could just try getting to know her.

[Overmars]

I am just going to see if an opertunity comes along. I am not going to press this. I think that is what you guys are saying.