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Busting Myths Around Eating Disorders - Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2023

by University of Liverpool Library on 2023-03-01T15:15:00+00:00 | 0 Comments

This week marks National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2023. Here in the UK, a staggering 1.25 million people are impacted by eating disorders, and a recent survey conducted by Unite Students revealed that nearly one in four university students struggle with eating disorders or food-related issues.

Life with an eating disorder can be really challenging. Eating disorders negatively impact physical health and emotional well-being and make it difficult to achieve academic goals or make the most of the social aspects of university life.

Help for eating disorders is available, but widespread misinformation creates stigma which prevents people from seeking support. That’s why we’re here to challenge some common misunderstandings surrounding eating disorders this Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

By exploring the myths and facts below, you can help to break down the stigma associated with eating disorders.

Myth: “People with eating disorders are always very thin”

Fact: Most people with eating disorders are average or above average weight

The media often leads us to believe that all people with eating disorders are medically underweight. However, not all eating disorders lead to weight loss, and less than 6% of people with eating disorders are medically underweight. Eating disorders have been historically under-recognised and undertreated in higher-weight people, but they are just as serious.

Myth: “Eating disorders only affect young, white, cisgender women”

Fact: Eating disorders do not discriminate; anyone can be affected

Eating disorders can occur in people of any age, race, cultural background, gender identity, sexuality, and socioeconomic group. Around 25% of people with eating disorders are male. In addition, gender non-binary and transgender people are two to four times more likely to experience eating disorder symptoms than their cisgender peers. Furthermore, eating disorders affect people of all ethnicities at similar rates.

Myth: “Eating disorders are a choice”

Fact: Eating disorders are a serious mental illness

Eating disorders develop due to psychological, environmental, biological and genetic risk factors; they have profound and potentially devastating impacts on people’s lives and carry a high risk of death. No one chooses to develop an eating disorder, meaning someone with an eating disorder can’t “just stop” the behaviours. They can, however, decide to reach out for support to begin their recovery journey.

Myth: “Most people with eating disorders have either anorexia or bulimia”

Fact: The most prevalent eating disorder in the UK is OSFED

Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) accounts for almost half of diagnosed eating disorders. People with OSFED experience significant levels of disordered eating but do not fit the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder. Still, OSFED is just as serious as any other eating disorder. The second most common eating disorder is binge eating disorder, accounting for 22% of diagnosed cases.

Myth: “Once you have an eating disorder, it’s with you for life”

Fact: Full recovery from eating disorders is possible

One of the biggest myths surrounding eating disorders is that they are life-long conditions. Yes, recovery can be challenging and non-linear, but thanks to the brain’s plasticity, full recovery from eating disorders is possible. An eating disorder is not a life sentence, and with the right support, no one is beyond help.

If you have an eating disorder, you don’t have to face it alone:


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