Understanding the Myths of Eating Disorders

It was Eating Disorders Awareness Week recently which is an international awareness event, fighting the myths and misunderstandings that surround anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and Eating Disorder not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS).

Over 1 in 50 people in the UK suffer with eating disorders which is a devastating mental illness, and this blog is here to help you understand some of the myths surrounding eating disorders.

There are several myths around eating disorders and we’re discussing some of the biggest ones:

Myth: Eating disorders are a choice.

Fact: Eating disorders are a complex illness and there is no single cause. They are thought to be caused by a combination of biological, psychological and sociocultural factors. They are never a personal choice.

 

Myth: Someone must be under-weight to have an eating disorder.

Fact: Most people think someone with an eating disorder will look underweight. However, although weight lost is typical in anorexia nervosa, most people with eating disorders stay at apparently ‘healthy’ weight or are sometimes considered ‘overweight’.

 

Myth: Eating disorders only happen to young girls.

Fact: Research shows that eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations and from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

 

Myth: Eating disorders are someone seeking attention.

Fact:  There is often an association between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders, but they are not just someone seeking attention or being vain. They are a serious illness and not a lifestyle choice, phase or attention seeking. In fact, people often go to great lengths to hide the eating disorder and to keep it a secret from loved ones.

 

Because people often keep it a secret, it can be hard to know what to do if you expect someone to has an eating disorder. People often present little difficulty at work and excel at their job. They may go to great lengths to make sure their illness is not noticed at work. However, sometimes a colleague may tell someone about the situation directly or colleagues may notice signs and symptoms which may make them concerned. For example, weight loss, weight gain or changes in the person’s behaviour such as mood swings, social withdrawal or difficulty concentrating.

Knowing what to do if you suspect someone you work with has an eating disorder can be challenging. Staff who have an eating disorder may require treatment and absence from the workplace to attend appointments. Eating disorders are an illness so having policies and procedures around staff illness is important.

If you are concerned about how you would handle this at work, or any mental health issues within a workplace, we offer courses that can help and support you with this.

This year, the charity BEAT has set up a new fundraising challenge with the title ‘Twogether’ which means working with someone else to get fundraising and raise awareness of eating disorders. Think twinning outfits, a sponsored walk with a good friend or crafting something as a pair.  To find out more, or how you can fundraise for BEAT, visit www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk.

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