Concerned about someone else?

When you are concerned about someone with an eating difficulty:

• Keep the focus on some of the ways eating difficulties affect people’s lives e.g., social isolation, guilt, mood swings, secrecy, preoccupations with food and weight.
• Treat all eating difficulties seriously.
• Examine your own attitudes and understandings about body image and size so that you do not convey any prejudices or exacerbate existing issues.
• Be sensitive in the ways you approach someone with your concerns.
• Always remember that the eating issue is the problem, not the client.
• Clients struggling with an eating issue may appear ‘non-compliant’. This ‘non-compliance’ is a symptom of an eating issue, not the client.
• Recovery from eating issues can be as complex as the issue itself.
• Maintain your own professional supervision to work through any frustrations.
• Have realistic and flexible expectations about the change process and how you evaluate progress.
• Seek professional support and referral for the client where appropriate.
• Name your concerns to your client, about specific behaviours e.g., “I’m concerned about your wellbeing because I’ve noticed that you have been working out while you have an injury,” “I’m concerned about you because I’ve noticed the loss of enamel on your teeth”.
• Communicate to your client that you take any eating issues seriously and support them in doing so as well.
• If you have serious concerns about your client’s health (e.g. noticing rapid weight loss) immediately refer to an appropriate eating issue agency.
• More developed eating issues (particularly anorexia and bulimia) have physiological consequences that can impact on a client’s ability to access and respond to help and support.
• Educate yourself about the warning signs of anorexia and bulimia and appropriate referral pathways.
• Collaborate with your client in discussions and decisions about the best course of action.
• One size does not fit all when working with eating issues. There are a wide range of approaches and strategies for change. Inform yourself about them.
• Dieting is an inappropriate recommendation for anyone, regardless of weight.
• It is essential to maintain appropriate confidentiality.
• If you need to tell a third party about your concerns do so in a respectful and sensitive manner and keep your client fully informed.

See also our Information Booklets Tab for a PDF booklet about talking with or supporting someone who is struggling with an eating issue.