Dispelling Myths about Eating Disorders: Breaking Down Stereotypes
Dispelling Myths About Eating Disorders: Breaking Down Stereotypes
In the United States, around 30 million people are struggling with an eating disorder. This is a massive number that includes people of any age, ethnicity, socioeconomic level and gender. When it comes to eating disorders, there are many misconceptions and assumptions that have harmful impacts on the way we see ourselves in society. You may be familiar with some of these myths:
Myth #1: Only women have eating disorders.
Because the media depicts people with eating disorders as mostly young, white women, this stereotype is no surprise. Any person can struggle with an eating disorder, regardless of gender or sex. It is crucial to understand that an eating disorder is not a ‘gendered’ disorder. This stereotype is particularly detrimental because it creates obstacles for men or non-binary individuals when seeking help. Eating disorders also affect transgender and nonbinary folks at alarmingly high rates.
Myth #2: There is only one type of eating disorder.
When people may think of an eating disorder, they may only associate it with food restriction and being underweight. However, the only eating disorder that classifies being underweight as a diagnostic criteria is Anorexia Nervosa. There are multiple eating disorders such as Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake, Orthorexia Nervosa, Body Dysmorphia and Pica. These conditions involve different habits that don’t necessarily mean restricting what one eats. It is important to be aware of other kinds of eating disorders so diagnoses don’t go undefined.
Myth #3: Only smaller-bodied people have eating disorders.
The media often depicts people with eating disorders as severely underweight, but the truth is that any person of any shape or form can have an eating disorder. It is not possible to look at someone and conclude they have an eating disorder. This assumption is both unfortunate and disadvantageous to everyone, because it can delay treatment for many who may believe they don’t have issues around eating.
Myth #4: Eating disorders are fake or not to be taken seriously.
Eating disorders are very real. People with disordered eating often feel a great deal of shame and anxiety and they will take great measures to hide it from their loved ones. An eating disorder is a serious mental illness and requires help and support. Eating disorders have the 2nd highest mortality rate of any mental illness. According to the National Alliance For Eating Disorders, nearly 1 person dies every 52 minutes from an eating disorder or associated factors. If the hard data isn’t clear enough, eating disorders are in fact very legitimate and must be taken seriously.
Myth #5: You can’t recover from an eating disorder.
Many therapists and mental health professionals agree that ‘healing is not linear’, meaning the recovery process is not a start-to-finish journey. Recovery comes with lots of ups and downs, setbacks and ultimately growth. With commitment, time and proper support, recovery is possible.
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