I think my friend if bulimic and need advice

[Nicole911]

my best friend for 3 years is 15 years old, and i seriously think she is bulimic. All she talks about is how fat she is when shes 5'2 and 110 pounds! its not like our friends are thinner then her for her so feel like shes "bigger" then us. The last couple of times i have been with her i noticed she eats a lot and then says she needs to go to the bathroom and i hear her throwing up. When i ask her what she is doing she says that something she ate must have bothered her when she ate basically just lettuce or something that she is used to eating. I know she is lying.  Then as soon as she gets out of the bathroom she starts to chew gum. At school she always tells me the small amount of calories she has taken in for the day and says she cant wait to go home and drink all this water. I think she takes in about 700-750 calories a day. she says all the time how she wants to lose weight and hates her appearance and i am just so scared for her. She also complains how she is always freezing where everyone else it sweating. Another sign i noticed is she is paler then usual and is always tired. I don't know what to do. do i tell her parents? do i tell mine? do i tell her siblings? PLEASE HELP.

[Patricia Pitts, PhD]

Your concerns are valid.  I would first speak with your parents so they could support you.  Together you could go to her parents out of concern and let them know the facts.  The school counselor is another individual to whom you and your parents could speak to.  Your friend does sound like she's struggling.  Even though she could get mad at you for letting adults know, inside she knows she has a problem and needs help.  Best of luck.  To learn more about eating disorders and treatment options, visit the bella vita website.  Best, Dr Patricia Pitts  The Bella Vita  Los Angeles, CA

[Atoli]

uhm i think its better if you did tell to her parents because it might get even worst and they will help her,  you should as well support her she is the begening in being bolimic as i guess an she is trying to loose weight and teach her self i believe she might have been affected by something but yet you should let her eat sweets and make her change her mind about calories tell her that us in her age should be balanced because its better and when you look at her complement her look and her balanced healthy body, let her know she already is pretty and thin.