Dear Gabby,

First, you should feel really good that your friend trusted you enough to share this with you. There is typically a lot of shame associated with having an eating disorder. For this reason, many people suffering with eating disorders aren’t able to disclose that they have a problem until they are college-age and older. This is a real problem because the longer someone has an eating disorder, the tougher it can be to treat it successfully.

Eating disorders are very dangerous and even potentially life threatening, so the earlier someone begins treatment, the better. This is why you should encourage your friend to see a mental health professional who specializes in treating eating disorders. Depending on how severe the problem is, there may need to be additional experts to provide assistance. In addition to a psychotherapist, the team typically includes a medical doctor to monitor physical health and a nutritionist to help the patient learn healthier eating habits. In very severe cases, there may be a need for hospitalization to ensure that the patient is getting enough nutrition.

As you can see, this can become a very serious problem. Helping your friend get the necessary help as soon as possible will increase the chances of successfully addressing this issue.