Eating Disorders
~ beauty is the top priority, health is the price to pay ~
What are they?
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses. They affect one’s lifestyle dramatically and can eventually lead to life-threatening diseases. People suffering from these disorders have a higher chance of dying than those without it, making their mortality rate 12 times higher. It can happen to anyone, even celebrities. Approximately one in 20 Australians are suffering from these disorders and this population is still growing. The most common eating disorders, that are recognised by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. |
Australian Statistics with Eating Disorders:
- A study conducted in 2007 by Sydney University of approximately 9 000 adolescents, showed that one in five female adolescents starved themselves or threw up their food to maintain their body. Furthermore, 8% of girls used smoking to keep their weight under control.
- With Australians that are aged 11-24, around 28% of males and 35% of females are unhappy with their body.
- Based off a study conducted by the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) in 2010, 84.3% of Australian adolescents who responded know at least one fellow young person, who have or possibly have an eating disorder.
- 70% of adolescent girls are unhappy with their body.
- 9% of the Australian population are affected by eating disorders.
913 000 people in Australia have an eating disorder today
STIGMA
Stigma of eating disorders and other types of mental illnesses are common, due to people being uninformed and public misconceptions remaining high. Various stereotypes still exist, which is why many people with eating disorders are afraid to seek help. One of these negative perceptions about people who have developed eating disorders is that they are conceited, since they are obsessed with their appearance. Also, many people assume that people with eating disorders are to blame for their illness. As shown in recent studies, people believe that eating disorder patients are only seeking attention and choose to remain ill. Moreover, a common stereotype is that eating disorders only affect women, despite both genders being affected. Other myths surrounding the stigma that is attached to eating disorders include only teenage girls being affected and that they are physical illnesses. Thus, there are many misconceptions about eating disorders.
The stigmatisation of eating disorders has a negative impact on everyone, especially people with the illness. It causes people with eating disorders to avoid seeking help, increases their feelings of being isolated, lowers confidence and produces fear of being judged. Today, attitudes on eating disorders are slowly changing, and rightfully so. Unless the stigma around mental illnesses is reduced, mortality rates will remain high for those with eating disorders. People living with eating disorders rarely seek help, due to the barriers put up by society, meaning we must stop stigmatising mental illnesses. This can be done by raising awareness on eating disorders, challenging the stereotypes put into place by the media and supporting those who have an eating disorder.
Common stereotypes:
- Anorexia - extremely underweight and thin
- Binge eating - obese
- Bulimia - obsessed with dieting and exercise
- Superficial since they care so much about their body
- They are to blame for their eating disorder
- Self-inflicted and that having one of the eating disorders is a choice
- Difficult to talk to
- Attention-seekers
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