CONTENT WARNING: Eating disorders, body dysmorphia.

Eating disorders are arguably one of the most difficult conditions to talk about, and for good reason. Talking to someone about their eating disorder can be tough because food and weight are typically normal topics of conversation, but what seems mundane to most people is a nightmare for others. And what might seem like a compliment or encouragement to you, could actually be an encouragement to a person with an eating disorder to keep it up.

Everyone's ED is different, and everyone has different triggers.

But here are a few rule-of-thumb statements that are just never okay:

1. "You look so... [insert weight-related adjective]"

If you say they look the way they want to look, you're encouraging them to keep it up. If you say they look the way they don't want to look, you're encouraging them to "try harder."

It's simple: If you suspect a person has an ED, do not comment on their weight.

2. "Why aren't you eating any...?" "Are you really gonna eat all that?

Yes. I'm aware. Moving on.

4. "Just eat!" OR "Just stop eating so much!"

If it was that simple, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

5. "So like, why do you do it?"

For some of us, there's no clear reason "why" we have an eating disorder. And even if there is some incredibly traumatic backstory to our ED, we sure as hell don't want to talk to you about it.

6. "You don't look like you have an eating disorder"

To a person with a restriction-focused eating disorder, this just translates to: You need to try harder to lose weight. But to someone with BED, this statement basically tells them their eating disorder isn't real and invalidates their struggle completely The moral of the story is, once again, don't talk to people you suspect might have an ED about their appearance.

7. "You do this to yourself"

To a person with a restriction or purging-based eating disorder, this just translates to: You need to try harder to lose weight. But to someone with BED, this statement basically tells them their eating disorder isn't real and invalidates their struggle completely.

Shoot, you caught me. I intentionally gave myself a debilitating mental illness. Guess my secret's out.

8. "If you're not diagnosed, you don't really have a problem"*

Not everyone with an ED has access to a psychiatrist to get a diagnosis, nor can they always afford treatment. Don't invalidate someone's experience based on what's in their pocket.

*This statement actually applies mostly to people who are diagnosed with EDs and shame those who are not into feeling their ED isn't as serious. Acknowledge that you are privileged enough to have a diagnosis and treatment while others cannot, and move on.