I will never forget seeing an anorexic woman running across Constitution Avenue. She was absolutely skeletal and had very little hair; it was unbelievable that she had the strength to run. I was in college at the time and often think of her and wonder if she got help or what happened to her. Years later, I dated a man whose sister was anorexic and had been in and out of treatment for many years. She got pregnant with twins and finally had to eat for the sake of her children. Even then, the most she could manage for meals was a bowl of Special K with skim milk or a fat-free sugar-free yogurt. I guarantee the woman at your gym has help, interventions, and failed treatments in her past. It's a terribly hard disease to treat successfully.

Anonymous wrote:I don't go to the gym at any regular time, sometimes it's early in the morning before work, sometimes mid day on my days off (work part time), sometimes the weekend. There's a woman who is ALWAYS there on the stair master in the back of the gym, she's there when I get there and when I leave. I worry about her too, but I don't know her. I don't know what I would say to someone like that.

Why do you worry about her? If she isn't hogging the equipment then MYOB. If she passes out the staff will take care of her. Do you actually pay attention to other people's workout times?

I seriously doubt that she was anorexic. Probably just too skinny and/or fit for OP's liking and comfort level.

I don't go to the gym at any regular time, sometimes it's early in the morning before work, sometimes mid day on my days off (work part time), sometimes the weekend. There's a woman who is ALWAYS there on the stair master in the back of the gym, she's there when I get there and when I leave. I worry about her too, but I don't know her. I don't know what I would say to someone like that.

OP, seriously get a life.

There is an anorexic person at my gym (like ALL gyms). It is not my place to approach her. I'm not her friend, mother, sister, priest, or psychiatrist. I'm a random stranger with no connection. It would be offensive.

Gyms cannot ban fat or thin people. Maybe when I see an obese person on the treadmill, I get scared for their health, like they are going to die of a heart attach or blow their knees out. Should I approach them too?

Anonymous wrote:I saw the anorexic women running over Key Bridge again this morning. Pouring rain. I was amazed by those teeny tiny determined legs.

Lots of runners look too thin to me. You know the look, the "runner's body"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone thinks it's a MYOB situation. We do in essence have a responsibility to our fellow human beings:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/25/stranger-intervention-saves-anorexic-woman/6885345/

So you think the OP should approach this woman and say she is concerned about her health?

If so, then go ahead and tell OP that.

Um, that's what I'm saying, and also offering support from the perspective of someone who was approached. Was it really that hard to discern?

Actually you weren't clear.

OK. Let me be clear. Read the article. It's about a woman who was anorexic and her gym acquaintances intervened and saved her life. I said above we have a responsibility to our fellow human beings. 1 + 1 = 2. But I'm pretty sure OP was able to connect those dots just fine.

Still not following.

You're stupid.

LOL

I saw the anorexic women running over Key Bridge again this morning. Pouring rain. I was amazed by those teeny tiny determined legs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone thinks it's a MYOB situation. We do in essence have a responsibility to our fellow human beings:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/25/stranger-intervention-saves-anorexic-woman/6885345/

So you think the OP should approach this woman and say she is concerned about her health?

If so, then go ahead and tell OP that.

Um, that's what I'm saying, and also offering support from the perspective of someone who was approached. Was it really that hard to discern?

Actually you weren't clear.

OK. Let me be clear. Read the article. It's about a woman who was anorexic and her gym acquaintances intervened and saved her life. I said above we have a responsibility to our fellow human beings. 1 + 1 = 2. But I'm pretty sure OP was able to connect those dots just fine.

Still not following.

You're stupid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone thinks it's a MYOB situation. We do in essence have a responsibility to our fellow human beings:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/25/stranger-intervention-saves-anorexic-woman/6885345/

So you think the OP should approach this woman and say she is concerned about her health?

If so, then go ahead and tell OP that.

Um, that's what I'm saying, and also offering support from the perspective of someone who was approached. Was it really that hard to discern?

Actually you weren't clear.

OK. Let me be clear. Read the article. It's about a woman who was anorexic and her gym acquaintances intervened and saved her life. I said above we have a responsibility to our fellow human beings. 1 + 1 = 2. But I'm pretty sure OP was able to connect those dots just fine.

Still not following.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone thinks it's a MYOB situation. We do in essence have a responsibility to our fellow human beings:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/25/stranger-intervention-saves-anorexic-woman/6885345/

So you think the OP should approach this woman and say she is concerned about her health?

If so, then go ahead and tell OP that.

Um, that's what I'm saying, and also offering support from the perspective of someone who was approached. Was it really that hard to discern?

Actually you weren't clear.

OK. Let me be clear. Read the article. It's about a woman who was anorexic and her gym acquaintances intervened and saved her life. I said above we have a responsibility to our fellow human beings. 1 + 1 = 2. But I'm pretty sure OP was able to connect those dots just fine.

I've encountered this situation before, too, and it's heart-breaking. In one of my yoga classes, there was a girl who had a known problem with anorexia. (The teacher was aware of the problem, and was the one who told me, because I expressed my concern to her and asked if we could do anything.) She got thinner and thinner, and eventually stopped attending class. The teacher had tried to help her, but to no avail. I'm not sure what you can do, OP - a person with an unrealistic body image is likely to either (a) think you are jealous because you are fat and she is skinny, or (b) think you don't understand because you are thin and she is "fat."

Gyms do have liability, and I would that they could revoke someone's membership if they worried that someone could die on their watch and they could get sued.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone thinks it's a MYOB situation. We do in essence have a responsibility to our fellow human beings:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/25/stranger-intervention-saves-anorexic-woman/6885345/

So you think the OP should approach this woman and say she is concerned about her health?

If so, then go ahead and tell OP that.

Um, that's what I'm saying, and also offering support from the perspective of someone who was approached. Was it really that hard to discern?

Actually you weren't clear.

Anonymous wrote:This morning, there was a woman at my gym who was positively anorexic. Not thin, not skinny, not lean, but she was absolutely skeletal - completely just skin and bones. It was frightening and heartbreaking to see.

I felt so sad for her, and angry that a gym would let a woman with such an obvious disorder join. There were plenty of gym employees and trainers - going about their thing. On the one hand, this woman has to know she has a deadly, ticking time-bomb problem. On the other hand, should someone say something? Is it futile?

She is free to go to the gym. Besides, she might be recovering from something else. You just don't know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone thinks it's a MYOB situation. We do in essence have a responsibility to our fellow human beings:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/25/stranger-intervention-saves-anorexic-woman/6885345/

So you think the OP should approach this woman and say she is concerned about her health?

If so, then go ahead and tell OP that.

Um, that's what I'm saying, and also offering support from the perspective of someone who was approached. Was it really that hard to discern?