A personal reflection from our co-founder on Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2025.
If someone close to you is struggling with an eating disorder, I hope these reflections help provide insight and support. No two journeys are the same, and recovery is deeply personal, but here is what I wish people around me had known.
1. Empathy over generalisations and assumptions.
I only recently opened up to my parents about my long history with ED. They admitted they never truly understood why I struggled with food. The reality? Neither did I, for a long time.
Eating disorders are complex — they are rarely only about food or weight. Research suggests they stem from a combination of biological, social, and environmental factors. While it is helpful to reflect on whether you may have unintentionally contributed to someone’s struggles, it is also important to accept that the causes of EDs are multifaceted, and you may never be able to look for a single “why” — compassion, listening and an open mind make all the difference.
2. Show love through presence.
People with EDs are often really, really hard on themselves. What helped me the most was knowing that people were there for me. Small, consistent reassurances mattered.
The smallest gestures can mean everything: asking how someone is beyond their eating habits, making time for shared activities that do not revolve around food, or just offering a space where they feel safe and supported. Sometimes, all someone needs is to know they are loved and are not alone.
3. Be mindful of comments on food or weight.
In many cultures, food is a language of love, and commenting on someone’s eating habits or body changes can feel natural to some. But even well-meaning remarks — like pointing out weight fluctuations — can be triggering.
I have struggled through social gatherings where food and body image are constant topics. This article on Eater in particular sums up the unspoken pressures surrounding body size and expectations in Asian culture, exploring how cultural dimensions shape our eating habits, our body image, and our ability to seek treatment: https://www.eater.com/2019/11/19/20955556/my-discomfort-with-comfort-food.
If you are supporting someone with an ED influenced by body-image struggles, be mindful of how remarks about food and weight — however well-intended — may have an impact on their self-worth or relationship with food.
4. Recovery isn’t linear, and healing isn’t just about food.
During recovery, some days feel like breakthroughs, others feel like setbacks. I used to think I had failed if I relapsed into old habits, but I have learned that recovery is a long process — one that does not always follow a straight path. If you are supporting someone with an ED, patience is one of the greatest gifts you can offer.
True healing is also about restoring a healthy relationship with food, body, and self. Some people with EDs struggle with anxiety, control, or perfectionism — food just becomes the outlet. Support them in rebuilding trust in themselves and their bodies, and encourage them to seek professional help when they are ready.
5. Take care of yourself, too.
Supporting someone with an ED can be emotionally and mentally draining. You might feel helpless, frustrated, or even guilty for not knowing how to help. But you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Set boundaries, take breaks, prioritise your own well-being, and seek support when needed. Remind yourself that their recovery is not solely on your shoulders. The stronger and more balanced you are, the better you can show up for them.
If you are supporting someone through an eating disorder, know that your mere presence and understanding matter more than you may realise.
Further Information and Resources
At SousFeed, we believe food should fuel and empower — not be a source of guilt or fear.
Eating disorders are one of the biggest mental health challenges of our time and they can affect anyone at any time. They have the second-highest mortality rate among mental health conditions, with one person dying from an eating disorder every 52 minutes.
According to eating disorder charity Beat, at least 1.25 million people in the UK are currently living with an eating disorder, i.e., more than 1 in 50 people – but the real number could be even higher. Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions which are often misunderstood, mislabelled or undiagnosed which can prevent people from reaching out for help.
If you or someone you love is struggling with disordered eating, know that you are not alone. Here are some resources that may help: https://edaw.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/how-we-can-help/.
Please also feel free to share this post with anyone who may need it or reach out via info@sousfeed.com.
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