An eating disorder is a serious mental disorder that makes a person terrified of gaining weight. If this disorder is not treated soon enough, it can lead to osteoporosis, anemia, slowed breathing and other serious health problems. If one of your loved ones has an eating disorder, you can step up and help. Here are four helpful tips for helping someone with an eating disorder:

Learn More Information About Eating Disorders

Before you can truly help someone with an eating disorder, you have to understand what they are going through. To do that, take some time to research information about eating disorders. When you learn more about this disease, you will realize that it is tough to recover from, so you will have more compassion for your loved one.

Use the Right Language

It is important to use the right language when expressing concern about your loved one. If you place blame on the person or make her feel threatened, nothing will get accomplished. Start out by telling your loved one that you are worried about her and that you care about her well-being. Let her know that she can talk to you about anything and that you will never judge her.

Do not Make Comments About the Person's Body

A person with an eating disorder is already too preoccupied about her body, so it is not a good idea to make comments about your loved one's weight. If you tell your loved one that she is too skinny or needs to gain weight, it will only make her more obsessed with her body image. Instead, you could tell her that you are concerned about her health.

Encourage Your Loved One to Seek Professional Help

Eating disorders are very difficult to beat alone, so you should encourage your loved one to go to therapy. Whether it is individual or group therapy, it can help her come to terms with her eating disorder and learn healthier ways to cope with anxiety and depression. Help your loved one find a therapist who specializes in eating disorders, so she can receive the best help possible. Your loved one might also benefit from an outpatient eating disorder treatment center.

Watching someone you care about struggle with an eating disorder is tough. However, you do not have to let your loved one suffer forever. If you follow these helpful tips, you can help the person you care about recover from an eating disorder and live a happier life.