Anyone can develop an eating disorder. This might be a friend, relative, a colleague or even a footballer who is supposed to control his deit. If you are worried that a friend or a footballer might have a problem, you have to try and do everything you can to help them recover from their eating disorder.
The three most common eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. People suffering from anorexia normally starve themselves even when they are underweight because they are afraid of getting fat. Those suffering from bulimia vomit or take medication to prevent them from gaining weight.
The binge eating disorder makes most people eat excessively by consuming calories in a short period of time. Most cannot stop eating even when they are full. But, there are several ways that you can help someone with a binge eating disorder. Use the tips below.
Try to build up their self-esteem
Motivate them to be open about how they feel whenever they eat. This will increase their self-esteem since they will feel that you are concerned about them. It will also show them that you appreciate having them as your friend.
Advise them
Advice can go a long way to ensuring that your friend tries to change their eating habits. Choose a good time when they are emotionally calm and happy and advise them about the disadvantages of binge and listen to their side of the story. What makes them eat so much?
But, try not to criticize or force them to speak since this might prevent them from being open with you about their eating habits. Just ensure that they know that you care for them. This is very important, especially if your friend feels like you are not proud of their eating habit. Provide them friendship, help, and support.
Include them in various activities
Try and involve your friend in joining you for various activities such as going out and encourage them to accompany you. Even if they refuse, keep trying to include them to make them feel wanted and appreciated.
Eat with them
If your friend lives in your house, plan on having meals together. This way you will ensure that they are eating what you’ll be having, and the right portion sizes. Any meal that you prepare should be balanced, with a range of foods that offer the right nutritional value. Do not encourage eating out since this will only encourage them to eat unhealthy foods.
Offer them support
You can decide to accompany them to their appointments or assist them with daily tasks.
You could coordinate this with other friends. Do not isolate them. Involve them in the same activities you’ve been doing together before they became ill.
There are different treatments, although most involve some kind of talking therapy and a guided self-help programme. The best is to get them professional help from a doctor who will give your friend the best advice on how to get better. Although, this might be difficult in the beginning, try and encourage them to seek help.
With a credible therapist, you will be helping your friend on their wellness journey and to speak freely about the emotional difficulties that led to their eating disorder. This will help them learn healthier ways to cope with how they feel.