Vomitting teenager

[desertmum]

My DDs friend is making herself vomit after eating - she is obsessed with her weight. DD says her mum doesn't know . . I don't know the mum very well and while I think I should mention this to her, am not sure how to go about it. Any advise ? DD by the way is saying please don't mum she'll know it was you . . . Not worried about that, but am worried mum might think I am interfering - however if it was my DD I would want to know.

So how to start the conversation ? Any ideas ?

Oh god, this is tough. I had a similar situation when I was younger, and my mother ended up telling the mother of my friend. I was furious, and my friend didn't speak to me again....I have no idea if their interference actually helped her at all. I'd like to think so, otherwise I lost a good friend for nothing...

Sorry, not very helpful to you is it

I would not worry at all about any perceived intefering here. This young lady sounds like she's well on her way to developing an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa if she is not already anorexic.

Perhaps you can ask her Mum if she's noticed any recent changes in her behaviour, has she noticed her daughter become more secretive, stopped eating with them?.

www.b-eat.co.uk

B-eat is the UK's leading charity on eating disorders. They have a helpline; it may be worth talking to them initially before talking to this girl's mother.

Hi all, thanks for the posts. Will, I think, talk with someone knowledgeable before I talk to the mum; thanks for the info. Sycamoretree - that is what I am worried about - not sure if she does it all the time or just when she is sleeping over at friends to make sure she is the centre of attention - whichever it is she needs help.

are they at school together? if so, could dd and her friends speak in confidence to a teacher, who could then take it up with her parents?