Eating disorders
I enjoyed reading your discussion on the signs of eating disorders. You mentioned that purging is one of the signs. Purging indeed is one of the signs. Purging is usually observed in teens suffering from Bulimia nervosa, a disorder characterized by overeating. The behavior is then followed by ridding the body of the food just eaten (Morin, 2020). It is also important to note that the sign can be observed in teens who consume normal amounts of food as well as those with anorexia nervosa. The most common type of purging is self-induced vomiting. Other than misuse of laxatives, as you mentioned, other purging methods include enemas, and caffeine or diuretics to move food and liquids fast through the body. I also agree about the other signs you mentioned, such as thinning of bones, dry and yellowish skin, and brittle hair and nails.
I agree regarding how to help a friend or family who has an eating disorder. I believe helping a friend to get professional help from a specialist would be the very first step. Nevertheless, it can be very challenging. The best way is to try as much as possible to encourage such an individual to seek help and even offering to accompany them. The other way of helping is trying to build their self-esteem. This would entail telling them how great they are and how much you appreciate having them in your life.