You notice someone close to you has lost a lot of weight. You also notice that they’re skipping meals and talking more pessimistically about food and their body. You feel concerned but worry that commenting on their body might do more harm than good.

So what should you do? Where is the line between showing concern and being harmful?

I am familiar with the complexities and complications of eating disorders. As a college campus dietitian, I work together with students to confront their fears around food and dismantle the strict rules they might have around eating. My goal is to help students rediscover the joys of food and the social and cultural richness of eating with other people.

Despite my credentials in nutrition and psychology, my deepest understanding of eating disorders comes from my own personal experience with anorexia. I first started struggling with food when I was 13 and became visibly ill in high school, but it wasn’t until after my freshman year of college that I made substantial steps in my recovery journey. While eating disorders are often seen as a “teen problem,” there is no age limit on eating disorders. Adults with eating disorders may also have difficulty accessing appropriate support.

Too often, I see the fear of saying the wrong thing turning into saying nothing at all, regardless of the potential consequences of staying silent. But empathy and respect can open the door to necessary conversations.

No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

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