Letters from the Switched on "EATING DISORDERS" issue

Dear switched-on,
  
I am worried about my friend.  Her parents got divorced last year, and since then she has gotten really really skinny and she never eats lunch.  I want her to start eating again, but every time anybody says anything, she gets really mad, and I am scared she'll stop talking to me.

Lisa


Dear Lisa,
   
It sounds like your friend does need your help and support. Even if right now it seems like she might be mad, her health is at stake and it is very important that she gets the help that she needs.  You could try talking to an adult you both know, such as a teacher, a counselor, or even her parents. The most important thing is to be there for her if she needs someone to talk to.

Switched-on

Dear switched-on,
   
I just started high school and I'm on the cross-country team.  I like it a lot, but my parents are threatening to make me quit because they think I'm losing weight. I feel fine, and I don't know how to convince them to let me stay on the team.

Colin

Dear Colin,
The first thing to do is to check if you are losing weight. Cross-country is a lot of work, and it's important to make sure that you do eat enough. You can try talking to your coach or even a nutritionist to make sure that you are eating a the right amounts and the right kinds of food.  Once you know a little more about what you should be eating, you'll be better prepared to approach your parents and convince them that you do know how to take care of yourself.  It sounds like your parents are just worried about you, and if you show them that you really can manage your own diet, they will be more likely to let you continue running.
Switched-On

Dear Switched-on,

I just started high school, and I really like hanging out with my new friends after class. The only problem is that every day after school they insist that we stop at 7-11 and get candy, soda, and chips. I do not really like eating all that stuff, but it is hard to resist when everybody else is eating it. It also costs a lot of money to buy food every day. Some of my friends even skip lunch and use their lunch money to buy candy. I want to be friends with them, but I don't want to eat like them.

Sean


Dear Sean,

First of all, it is really hard to eat differently from the people around you and it is awesome that you are trying.  There is a couple things you could do.  You could bring a healthy snack that you like to eat from home to eat when everybody else is getting their food.  It is possible that there is even someone else in your group that wants to eat healthier, and your example will make it easier.  You could even try talking to your friends.  Say you are not comfortable with what they are eating and want to pass on the food. There is no reason that your friends need to decide what you eat.
Switched-On