QUESTION: I noticed my niece drinking water from her hand (from the bathroom sink) when we went to the restroom after lunch at a restaurant. This seemed like it was highly probable that she had thrown up. When I asked her if she'd thrown up, she said "no". Am I right to be concerned? There have been a LOT of changes in her life recently, including (but not limited to) the death of her mom and my becoming her guardian.



ANSWER: I ALWAYS encourage those who are concerned about a loved one to investigate further. These days, eating disorders are an international epidemic. With more than 70 million worldwide who suffer from various forms of eating disorders, if it looks like, talks like, acts like and walks like an eating disorder, there is a good chance it is an eating disorder.

With all the uncontrollable loss, grief and change your niece has endured recently, it seems probable that, at the very least, she may need some special assistance in navigating the emotional turbulence it has caused. Eating disorders often arise under these types of circumstances. You do not say what age your niece is, but eating disorders have been reported in females as young as three years old, and as old as 76 years old. So she is neither too young nor too old to be at risk.

You can find a list of suggestions for how to approach your niece to talk about what you observed on the Key to Life website HERE. My advice would be to schedule a thorough medical evaluation for your niece, to rule out any immediate medical concerns, after which you can begin to seek help for her to cope with some of the stress she may be experiencing now. If she does in fact have a developing eating disorder, you can find a list HERE of recommended treatment members who can help.

I hope this is helpful – please feel free to write again if you need to!

Warmly, and with HOPE,

Shannon

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