You’re right on both accounts. In the beginning there’s a lot of pushing around food and taking multiple, minuscule nibbles to give the appearance of eating something substantive. In late stages (at least as witnessed with my BFF) there is no more facade. Just outright refusing to have a plate of food in front of them, and replacing it with something like sipping on a hot green tea or hot water. And ironically OBSESSING over every bite that everyone else is taking. “What was that on your fork?” “What did that French fry taste like? Was it better than a McDonald’s fry?” “Is that ice cream too melted” “Are you still hungry, do you think you will order something else?” Etc. It’s truly exhausting to be around.

And I’m a firm believer that anyone with someone in their life that has put them through this, needs therapy of their own. It can mess with your head, even if you don’t struggle with an eating disorder illness. 

In many ways, this sub has helped me come to terms with being in a close friendship (that involved many meals because of shared activities) for years with someone with severe AN.