How can I help a friend suffering from an eating disorder?

This is the most common question I get from people, how to helpfully assist someone with an eating disorder. It is a tricky matter because many times the person suffering does not admit to being ill or is neglecting to see what damage he or she is doing to his/her body with the disordered pattern of eating and living. Here are some very helpful tips for loved ones who wants to help:

• Offer to make the first phone call or doctor's appointment, ask your friend if it is OK for you to take the first step in getting help for your loved one
• Don't judge! This behaviour is caused by an illness and you need to respect that it is not a personal flaw
• Read and do research about eating disorders so that you have facts and information and know the background of the illness. This will get you more prepared for the battle
• Talk to your loved one in private, tell him/her how very concerned you are and that youi are aware that it is a serious and possible deadly condition
• Encourage them and tell your loved one that whenever he/she wants to talk about it - you will be there and ready to do so
• Be aware of the decieving behavior, people suffering from eating disorders can be very manipulating and secretive
• Do not give demands, ultimatums or get angry or aggressive - this will not assist your friend but can actually make him/her more secretive about the behaviors
• Remember to get help for yourself! You are not the only one who has a loved one suffering, and there is a lot of support out there for you as well! You might actually want to talk to a professional about your worries as well.

These are some of the tips I have found helped me as well as my freinds and family in our battle against anorexia. Do you have more tips? Please e-mail me, or comment here, and I'll add them as well :-)