Weight loss questions??!!

So, I’ve got a bit of a situation on my hands and I’m looking for some perspective... I have a thirteen-year-old niece who is currently in seventh grade, and honestly, her weight is starting to really worry me. She is incredibly thin—to the point where it feels like she might be bordering on anorexia. When she bends her elbows, her joints look like toothpicks. Since her parents (my sister and her husband) are constantly working and tied up with their careers, there isn't much anyone around to monitor what she’s actually eating or how much. To get straight to the point, my sister and I had a bit of a disagreement yesterday regarding her appearance. My sister insists that she’s just thin and that it’s perfectly normal given that she’s going through puberty and all that. I, on the other hand, am trying to show her that this isn't healthy and that she simply isn't eating enough. It's not just me, either; my husband and several other family members have pointed out how underweight she is. While plenty of kids go through skinny phases, I’m terrified that this goes way beyond just being "slim." I guess what I'm wondering is: who can I turn to for professional guidance or documentation that could support my concerns? I want to be able to show my sister that this level of thinness isn't okay and that we need to encourage her to eat more. I’ve noticed her peers at school; while many of them are slender, they all seem much more "solid" and healthy-looking than she does. Her parents have a larger build, so I don't think it's a genetic thing—it feels more like she's just not getting enough nutrients, proteins, or vitamins during such a critical stage of development. Does anyone know which professionals I should reach out to for expert advice? I just want to know who is right in this situation and how to best help her. Thanks in advance!

I actually had two close friends who struggled with anorexia
one sought treatment at a clinic in New York City while the other just... moved past it without any professional help
but they were terrifyingly thin—literally walking skeletons—and honestly, it was heartbreaking to witness
they simply wouldn't eat, and if parents aren't actively monitoring or supporting them through it, things can spiral out of control incredibly fast
what’s even more baffling is that in both cases, their parents denied there was even an issue for years! And the strangest part? Both sets of parents were medical professionals!

Does she have a gaunt face, or how should I put this... does her face look sunken? If that's the case, or if it becomes apparent soon, we're likely looking at anorexia.
Is the girl particularly ambitious? My two friends were fiercely ambitious, especially when it came to their drive to avoid eating properly

What is your relationship with her like right now??
Try to find a reason to take her out for lunch or a treat, then observe. Does she eat normally, or will she pick something specific from the menu, like a plain cheese pizza without any actual cheese (yes, it really happens!) or perhaps refuse to eat anything at all?
Maybe try asking her directly if she notices certain symptoms, or do a little bit of research online regarding the signs of anorexia

All in all
good luck

Whenever I think back to those two walking skeletons, it just fills me with such sadness
I wouldn't wish that sight, or that experience, on anyone

So, I ran into this woman at my gym the other day—honestly, I was convinced she’d just finished fighting off leukemia or something.
She was maybe 5'7" but probably weighed around 90 pounds tops. She signed up for this intense fat-burning program, but ended up quitting because she felt the workouts weren't hard enough and she wasn't even breaking a sweat. 😕

Is it possible she's already an athlete and just overtraining?

Raymond Morales10 said:So... I have a bit of a situation on my hands. I have a thirteen-year-old niece currently in seventh grade, and frankly, her weight is deeply concerning to me. It feels like she’s teetering right on the edge of anorexia; when she bends her elbows, her joints look as thin as toothpicks. Since her parents—my sister and her husband—are constantly working, there isn't much supervision regarding her actual food intake. To get straight to the point, my sister and I had a bit of a falling out yesterday over this very issue. She insists that my niece is just naturally thin due to puberty and that nothing is wrong, whereas I am convinced she simply isn't eating enough and needs intervention. My husband and several others have also commented on how underweight she seems; while many kids her age are slender, her fragility feels unhealthy. I’m looking for some guidance on who I might turn to for professional validation—someone who can confirm that this level of thinness is indeed a health risk so I can show my sister that this isn't just a matter of genetics, especially since the parents are more robustly built. It seems clear to me that she isn't getting the necessary vitamins or protein required for a growing body. Who can I contact for expert advice to settle this dispute and determine who is actually being reasonable here? Thanks in advance.

Hold on a second—are you certain she isn't consuming enough food, or is your conclusion based solely on the fact that she looks thin?🙄