My friend has an eating disorder, what can i do to help ?

My friends 17 and she has an eating disorder
shes already been going to conventions and those sort of things for about a year now,
but i want to know what i can do as a friend to help her

unless she WANTS to be helped, no one can help her.
not you, not the conventions, nothing.
you cant force someone to change unless they want to.

however, if she *does* want that help, then being part of a great support system would be very helpful. you can even go on her "diets" with her (as long as its healthy), so she wont feel alone, like shes doing this all by herself. try and find ways to relate to her, even if its the littlest thing, just so she knows you have an idea of what its like to feel the way she does. I suggest educating yourself a little bit about her particular eating disorder (as they are all different in many ways), so you wont seem so ignorant on the matter.
compliment her. even if she is one of those people that go "ugh, no i dont" after being told she looks good, it still helps. you may not think it does, but she still hears it.
dont ever lie to her, though. i mean, if youre going to compliment her, make sure you mean it.
you can go grocery shopping with her also, so yo can help her make her food choices. if permitted, going with her to her "conventions" would be very supportive also.

good luck to her, and you are a very thoughtful friend....

It is almost impossible to help a friend get over this disorder. You can tell her all you want how you feel about it and how her health is not up to par, it's hard for them to listen. I think all she needs is support. If she's going to conventions I think she already has gotten some help she needs. Most eating disorders happen because they don't feel in control of their lives and they can control what they eat.

always reassure her she looks really good and you think shes pretty. Keep her confidence level up and maybe even try to help her hook up with soem guy if she doesn't already have a boyfriend. A relationship may boost her mood and help her improve her eating habbits. Usually eating habits are associated with some sort of sadness, but if you eliminate that sadness and get her happy in her own skin she could probably start feeling more confortable eating more.

Make sure you let her know how good she looks gaining weight. Invite her to go eat ice cream one afternoon and make sure she knows how proud of her you are. Let her know because she is getting better that you are thankful she will be alive longer to remain your friend and how excited you are for her. Let her know this is a forever life change.

Strap her to a chair and siphon 10 pounds of melted butter down her throat.
No seriously.
I think it's great that she is getting help, going to conventions, etc., so basically I would just be there for her if she needs to talk.

you really need to talk to her asap!! You need to tell her you are worried about her and want her to get help and you will be there every step of the way to support her NO MATTER WHAT!! Really confront her and be her support system!

Tell you are scared for her, and that you care about her safety.
Try and talk to her, and just explain your feelings.

Invite her to lunch, a nice healthy meal.. tell her she was perfect the way she was, and she shouldn't have to go to extremities.

Encourage her to attend her support group meetings weekly.

The best you can do is to be there, and understand what's wrong. Trust me, that alone helps alot.

Find someone to tell. Not a friend, because they will just tell everyone else. Try a counsler?