DEAR ABBY: I have a friend who is an intelligent, single woman in her late 20s. She dresses well and is proud of her slim figure. We frequently have dinner and see a movie together. She loves pepperoni pizza, so very often we go to a pizza parlor, where she orders two large pizzas, one after the other! Then she goes to the restroom and -- you know the rest. (She forces herself to throw up.)
I know this can lead to serious health problems. Do I have the right to tell her she should stop doing this before it ruins her health? -- SORRY FOR HER
DEAR SORRY: Yes. Compare it with the "right" to warn a person who is stalled on the railroad tracks that a train is coming.
Your friend appears to suffer from "bulimia" -- a compulsion to overeat.
She should see a doctor who will refer her to a professional who specializes in eating disorders and behavior modification.