How to Support a Loved One with an Eating Disorder

Educate yourself on eating disorders; learn the jargon
Learn the differences between facts and myths about weight, nutrition, and exercise
Ask what you can do to help
Listen openly and reflectively
Be patient and nonjudgmental
Offer to help with practical tasks (laundry, transportation to and from appointments)
Avoid discussions about food, weight, and eating, especially your own habits or those of others
Model a balanced relationship with food, weight, and exercise
Ask how they are feeling
Remember that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint
Focus on the emotional aspects of an eating disorder, not just the physical ones
Encourage the sufferer to follow through with treatment recommendations
Distract your loved one during and after meals to help with anxiety
Refrain from telling the person what they should do
Continue to reach out—individuals with eating disorders may find it hard to socialize and may push people away
Arrange activities that don’t involve food or eating so your loved one can continue to take part
When it doubt, ask. They can’t read your mind, and you can’t read theirs
Validate their feelings and their emotional pain, especially when they share something difficult or reveal that they have kept a secret
Focus on positive personality traits and other qualities that have nothing to do with appearance
Express any concerns that arise
Don’t take their actions personally
Set boundaries to preserve your own emotional well-being

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