I once worked with a woman who suffered from an eating disorder. In a small office that shared just one bathroom and in such close quarters, it was hard to ignore. A few of us often discussed approaching her and offering a support system, but we never mustered the courage to do so. Her bulimia was blatant and affected everyone in the office in one way or another. After she absolved all her sick days and could no longer function at the level she once had, she quit. It will always bother me that I never spoke to her about it, that I never even tried to get through to her when the truth was staring me in the face.

While the percentage of the adult population suffering from an eating disorder is fairly low, it still exists. In the U.S., .6% suffer from anorexia nervosa, 1% are bulimic, and 2.8% deal with some form of a binge eating illness. Eating disorders, if not treated, can be deadly. Although most suffer in private too ashamed to admit to their problem, if an employee or coworker is showing signs of an eating disorder, it’s the responsibility of the office to step in and help. Not only do healthy workers make for a happy, productive office environment, but more importantly, the health issue is at stake. More »