National surveys estimate that 20 million women and 10 million men in America will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Despite the prevalence of eating disorders, countless myths and misconceptions surrounding these deadly conditions persist. Many of these myths contribute to the stigma and prejudice that individuals with eating disorders experience. These persistent misconceptions make it difficult for many individuals to seek and access the help necessary for recovery.

By: Sadie Grant

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder and affect at least 8% of the U.S. population,[1] yet they are widely misunderstood. Among the general population and even among many healthcare professionals, there are often confusions and misconceptions surrounding eating disorders. In the following, we share some of the most common myths about eating disorders and offer counter evidence to debunk each myth. Note that this list is by no means exhaustive.

Myth: Eating disorders are a lifestyle choice.

Fact: Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that are influenced by a variety of risk factors that cannot be controlled.

The development of eating disorders is influenced by a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural risk factors. Common examples of biological risk factors include: having a close relative with an eating disorder or a mental health condition, a history of dieting, and Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. Examples of psychological risk factors include: perfectionism, body image dissatisfaction, history of mental health disorders, and behavioral inflexibility. Some examples of sociocultural risk factors include: weight stigma, teasing or bullying, acculturation, and history of trauma.[2] Eating disorders are not a personal or lifestyle choice.

Myth: Everyone has an eating disorder these days.

Fact: Although much of our culture is obsessed with diet and weight, about 8% of the U.S. population meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.

While many people engage in disordered eating behaviors such as dieting, restricting, and body checking, full-threshold eating disorders are less common. A 2007 study on English-speaking American men and women found that about 1.2% of the sample met the lifetime criteria for anorexia nervosa, 2% met the lifetime criteria for bulimia nervosa, and 5.5% met the lifetime criteria for binge eating disorder.[3] Recognizing the seriousness of eating disorders is essential to appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

**Myth: Eating disorders aren’t that serious.**

Fact: Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental disorders and can severely impact overall health and quality of life.

Up to 1 in 5 individuals with chronic anorexia nervosa die as a result of their eating disorder, and studies of bulimia and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED) show similar mortality rates. Common consequences of eating disorders include heart failure, kidney failure, electrolyte imbalance, osteoporosis, and PCOS, among many other potential health issues. Furthermore, in addition to the numerous medical complications and decreased quality of life that can arise from binge-eating, over-exercising, purging, and restricting, individuals with eating disorders or disordered eating are more likely to commit suicide.[4]

Myth: A person can’t recover from an eating disorder until they are ready.

Fact: Treatment does not have to wait until an individual is ready and willing to recover.

In fact, many people with eating disorders experience ambivalence and fear around recovery. Some may not even recognize that they are ill or identify the severity of their illness. Even if an individual is not completely ready or willing to recover, it is best to seek out treatment right away as early intervention increases the likelihood of full recovery.

Myth: You can tell someone has an eating disorder by looking at them.

Fact: Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes.

Unfortunately, the media often portrays individuals with eating disorders as young, emaciated, and female, while the truth is that you cannot tell whether a person has an eating disorder based on their appearance. Many people with eating disorders are not considered clinically “underweight”. In fact, people with eating disorders often live in seemingly “normal” or larger bodies, regardless of their eating disorder diagnosis. These misperceptions often lead those with eating disorders to question whether they are “sick enough” or deserving of treatment.

Myth: Eating disorders tend to only affect young white women.

Fact: Eating disorders affect those of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The majority of individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa are young, white, middle to upper-class females, however, diagnosis is likely impacted by stereotypes, varying levels of awareness, and access to healthcare. At least 8% of the U.S. population are diagnosed with an eating disorder, ⅓ of which are men [1]. In fact, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) may be more common among men than it is among women. Furthermore, 13% of women over the age of 50 have a disordered relationship with food [1], and people of different ethnic backgrounds often experience unique expectations around food that can lead to disordered eating.

Myth: Purging is defined as self-induced vomiting.

Fact: Purging is a means of removing food from the body, often to compensate for what an individual considers to be excessive food consumption.

While self-induced vomiting is a well-known method of purging, other common methods include excessive exercise, the use of laxatives and enemas, fasting, and abusing insulin. Many people who purge use more than one method. While each method presents unique risks, all can lead to life-threatening electrolyte imbalance.

Myth: It is not a problem to set rigid food rules or follow fad diets.

Fact: Strict diets can lead to disordered eating and become full-threshold eating disorders.

Strict diets are associated with later development of an eating disorder and can even indicate the presence of a full-threshold eating disorder, such as Orthorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. Furthermore, even if strict dieting behaviors do not meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis, disordered eating patterns can lead to serious physical, mental, and emotional consequences.

Although eating disorders can be complex and confusing, recovery is always possible. If you think you or a loved one is experiencing an eating disorder or disordered eating, reach out to a professional today. No matter who you are, what you have experienced, or how your relationship with food presents itself, you deserve a life free from eating disorders and disordered eating.

Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and assist you in taking the next step toward recovery. Book a free consultation call below or read more about our philosophy here.

This post was written by BALANCE Blog Intern, Sadie Grant.

Sadie is a recent graduate of Oberlin College with a B.A. in psychology. After recovering from disordered eating, Sadie became passionate about eating disorder awareness, body neutrality, and destabilizing beauty standards that are established by social and cultural norms. While earning her Bachelor’s degree, Sadie conducted quantitative research, worked with populations experiencing barriers to essential services, and studied Spanish. Sadie hopes to use her developing research and interpersonal skills to work in the field of eating disorders and address the way in which expectations around eating and beauty vary across different populations.

Resources

1. Common Myths About Eating Disorders Debunked. (2019, October 22). Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://centerfordiscovery.com/blog/myths-about-eating-disorders/

2. Risk Factors. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/risk-factors

3. Hudson JI, Hiripi E, Pope HG Jr, and Kessler RC. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3):348-58. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.03.040.

4. Eating Disorder Myths. (2019, August 22). Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/toolkit/parent-toolkit/eating-disorder-myths

5. Busting the Myths About Eating Disorders. (2018, February 22). Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/busting-myths-about-eating-disorders

8 Eating Disorder Myths Debunked