What should I do about this user?

EvgeniZyntx

Primum non nocere.

How does reporting the person help them?
It doesn't - either one tries to initiate a conversation -after all, they are on your friend list - or just walk away.

sammycat1

Good advice and since you've been there, I would just write this on the post.

sammycat1

You're right guys, it just sucks. I was very nearly sucked into that, when I very first started I tried to justify eating 700-800 calories a day. I'm SO glad I stopped. I never binged, but I was TERRIFIED of food. luckily I was able to get out of that trap before it ever started, and I eat 1500-1600 daily now, and eat back part if not all my exercise calories. When I see these girls, it breaks my heart, but also makes me angry. I know that if I had slipped and fallen, my life wouldn't be the healthy, fit, vital life it is now. I've made so many improvements fitness-wise just by eating more, and I want them to feel happy and healthy just like I do. Many of them have "to be happy with myself" "to get rid of fat" written on their profiles, and state they are 80 pounds.

I guess I'll just have to bite my tongue and let them figure it out on their own.

Meant to put the quote in.

jennifer_417

I would report them. For one thing, if they are banned, then they no longer have the support network they have on here, nor are they likely to be as much of an influence on others with the same problem. For another, no one should be above the MFP rules. We can have all the compassion in the world for them, but they should not be allowed to continue what they are doing on this site, against guidelines. Maybe if they get booted off enough websites, they will realize that what they are doing isn't good.

Olivia

Dear Posters,

Thank you to everyone who contributed with respect and concern to this important and difficult question.

I wanted to offer a brief explanation for the locking of this thread.

The forum guidelines includes:
3. No Promotion of Unsafe Weight-Loss Techniques or Eating Disorders
a) Posts intended to promote potentially unsafe or controversial weight loss products or procedures, including non-medically prescribed supplements or MLM products will be removed without warning.
b) Profiles, groups, messages, posts, or wall comments that encourage anorexia, bulimia, or very low calorie diets of any kind will be removed, and may be grounds for account deletion. This includes positive references to ana/mia, purging, or self-starving. Our goal is to provide users with the tools to achieve their weight management goals at a steady, sustainable rate. Use of the site to promote or glamorize dangerously low levels of eating is not permitted.
c) Photos intended to glamorize extreme thinness will be deleted.
d) Those seeking support in their recovery from eating disorders are welcome at MyFitnessPal.

I encourage users to report members they are concerned about to MyFitnessPal staff so that we can investigate the situation and take the appropriate actions, including reaching out to members with information on accessing resources for help.

MyFitnessPal strongly recommends that anyone suffering from the symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, or Compulsive eating make use of the resources offered by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. You may reach the ANAD hotline by phone in the US: 847-831-3438 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, Central Time) or on the web at http://www.anad.org/site/anadweb/

At our discretion, this locked thread may be deleted entirely in the near future.

With respect,
Olivia
MyFitnessPal Community Manager