Expert: Leigh-Anne - 6/28/2004

Question
Dear Leigh-Anne,
           I am 19 and I have a younger sister who is 15 and looks up to me very much. She is an excellent athlete and competes on the varsity track and swim team as well as in triathalons. She is the most fit person in my family and among her friends. My mother is a nutritionist and is very concerned that we eat healthy and I think that in combination with her athletic obsession with exercise has made her unhealthily concerned with her weight and diet. She is not fat, but has large muscular thighs and arms so I can imagine that she could convince herself that she is fat, especially in comparison to me as I am petite and pretty weak (I was premature). Reading popular magazines also doesn't help with her image, and she reads them a lot.

I was in her room and read her diet plan for the summer and I was shocked. She is restricting herself from eating most foods except for vegetables and fruit (my mother's influence gone awry). I don't think she is at a bulimic stage yet, but I worry that she might drive herself to that. As she is also going off to summer school by herself this summer, I am worried that no one there will notice her strange eating habits. I also do not know how to confront her about this "diet" plan. Could you possibly give me some advice on how discourage her in a way that she would be receptive to? It is very hard to counter the influence of the media nowadays and as I also won't be living with her (I go to college), it is hard to monitor my influence and her behaviour.

Thank you very much, Dorothy

Answer
Dorothy,

It's hard to confront people, but someone at least has to make the step to show that they are concerned about your sister. Maybe kind of nonchalantly ask her to explain her diet and what she's hoping to accomplish with it. Act as though you are interested in her diet and maybe thinking of trying a different diet, but don't ask her questions like you are trying to pry into her personal life. Eating a diet of mostly fruits and vegetables is not unhealthy. There are many "raw food" advocates out there. But they need to make sure they are still getting enough calories (minimum should be 1500 a day). Ask her to cook for you a couple of days  a week... something that she will eat. That way you know she is at least getting some nutrition. Being an athlete puts her at risk for developing a disordered eating pattern, so try to pay close attention. Make sure she is not sneaking away during or after meals to make herself throw-up. If she is... definitely confront her and rat her our. It's better to get help sooner rather than later. If you need any more help please do not hesitate to ask away! i'm here! now you be there for your sister if she needs you.

Leigh-Anne