Content note: this article contains references to eating disorders that readers may find upsetting.

In the UK, at least 1.25 million people are affected by eating disorders, with some estimates suggesting that this number could be as high as 3.4 million. Yet, despite the number of people who are living with these conditions, the subject remains taboo and misconceptions are rife. Charity Beat says that it takes an average of three years for someone with an eating disorder to seek help due to the low awareness of these illnesses in wider society.

Part of this is down to stigma – with one Australian study reporting that misconceptions around those who suffer from eating disorders seem to be growing. So, it’s clear that in order for people to be able to access the support that they deserve, we need to do more to educate ourselves on what these illnesses entail and what our stigmas around them are caused by.

Stylist asked four BACP-accredited therapists who work with people facing eating disorders about the common misconceptions that they want to dispel. Here’s what they told us…

Psychotherapist and eating disorders specialist Allie Outram wants people to know that assuming eating disorders are all about food “couldn’t be further from the truth”. Instead, Outram describes these conditions as “an unconscious attempt by the body, mind or psyche to cope with something unbearable”, She adds: “We may see the symptoms of overeating or restrictive eating as opposites, but underneath is the inability to nourish or to receive. Underneath is often doubt, shame and the inner critic, which fuel overeating or restrictive eating, and also the body hate that drives the behaviour. When we are able to live in our bodies instead of hiding from them, we are able to have a relationship with ourselves and then with others.”

While stigma and representation of eating disorders may commonly depict young, white women facing these conditions, therapist Ruth Micallef says that this demographic is far from the only one affected. “Not only does anorexia account for less than 8% of all eating disorder cases, but eating disorders impact people from every intersection of life,” she says. “For example, a quarter of eating disorder cases are male, roughly 23% of eating disorder cases are autistic and there’s a disproportionate number of cases from the LGBTQ+ community.”

Despite the NHS defining eating disorders as mental health conditions, there is still a myth that people who suffer from them are ‘attention seeking’ or vain about wanting to look a certain way. “Eating disorders are serious diagnosable illnesses; they are not a lifestyle choice, a phase or someone seeking attention,” explains counsellor and therapist Lindsay George. “Often people diagnosed with an eating disorder will go to great lengths to hide it. Many people with eating disorders actually report wanting to ‘disappear’ and hide themselves away, feeling inferior to others or like they don’t want to be seen. Confidence is usually very low at this time and it’s common for sufferers to become introverted and struggle to socialise.”

George says that eating disorders are complex illnesses, and there is no single cause. Instead, they are thought to be caused by a combination of biological, psychological and sociocultural factors. “Eating disorders are both distressing for the individual and their loved ones,” she shares. “They require specialist treatment, but people can and do get better from them. Eating disorders are mental health disorders and are never a personal choice.” 

If you seek help for an eating disorder, the NHS states that you’ll be referred to a specialist team and treatment for recovery can vary. While it says that treatment plans “usually” involve talking therapy, this isn’t the only type of therapy available, so it’s important to find treatment that suits you. “Therapy is about understanding your past and the things that have led to your eating disorder – whether that’s traumas, bullying, your environment or other factors” explains Harriet Frew, a counsellor and eating disorder specialist. “It’s also about working on symptom interruption. People are often ambivalent about change and may feel safe using food to cope with their deeper-seated issues. So, therapy can help work on their motivation and help find other ways to cope. It also encourages self-compassion and a healthy relationship with your body image. When self-worth has become so overly linked to body image, it can make it hard to feel good about yourself.”

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, you can ring Beat, the eating disorder charity’s helpline, on 0808 801 0677 or visit the website.

Images: Getty