As stated in my article last week, eating disorders have become one of the leading chronic illnesses in teens. Eating disorders are not something that can be easily understood. Unless you have personally gone through it or have had someone very close to you go through it, chances are you won't have much of an understanding of it. Seeing a loved one struggle with this is almost as hard as going through it yourself. Here are some dos and don'ts for those who may have a loved one struggling with this illness.

1. Do NOT harass them about their eating habits.
Though it may be tempting to interrogate them on why they aren't eating, it can be one of the most frustrating things for someone who is struggling. Instead of asking them 20 questions about their eating habits, just observe and approach them with your concerns later while not in a food environment. You may be met with fierce denial and possibly anger, but don't give up.

2. Do NOT attempt to force-feed them.
I know it can be scary to watch someone starve themselves and become weaker and weaker, but force-feeding them is not the way to help them. This will only make matters worse and probably cause a lot of tension between you and your loved one.

3. DO believe in them.
Especially when they don't believe in themselves. Eating disorders can bring you to a dark place, and sometimes you may lose hope in ever being happy again. When your loved one starts to lose faith in themselves, that's when they will need you and your love and support the most.

4. Do NOT make comments or ask them about their weight.
Eating disordered thoughts tend to center on the person's weight, so this topic is extremely sensitive. Certain things can "trigger" their unhealthy habits and thoughts brought on by their eating disorder, and the worst ones are comments made about their weight. These can make or break the person's day. They may be having a positive day regarding their recovery, and someone may slip and make a comment about their weight. This could easily set them back for the day or longer. It can be difficult as some people just don't know better, but you can do your part to help your loved one stay in a positive frame of mind by avoiding that specific topic.

5. Help them find a support team.
Despite the name, eating disorders are not about the food. You can't just tell someone to eat or ask them why they won't eat and get the answers that will solve everything. Eating disorders are a serious mental illness that can be deadly. There are often underlying issues that need to be addressed by those who are trained to help these specific illnesses, such as therapists and nutritionists.

One of the most important things to remember is that you cannot force recovery upon them. You can want it for them all you want, but ultimately they need to want to recover as well.

If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, contact ANAD at their helpline (630) 577-1330. The helpline operates 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.