Worried About Sister’s Relationship with Food

Dear Carolyn,

The relationship my sister, “Eileen,” has with food is a concern. She struggled with weight since childhood. While our mother stressed the importance of healthy eating and exercise, our father often had a lot of sweets and unhealthy snacks at his home. Eileen tended to overeat when we visited him, leading to weight gain. Over the years, she attempted several diets without success. However, three years ago, she enrolled in a behavior modification program. This helped her lose weight, improving both her appearance and her well-being.

Despite these improvements, Eileen’s relationship with food remains rigid. She resists discussing her eating habits or addressing related concerns. This inflexibility worries me, and I feel uncertain about how to approach the topic with her.