Addressing Common Myths About Eating Disorders

There are many common myths about eating disorders that can be detrimental to those experiencing disordered eating. Eating disorders affect about 5% of the population, including people of all genders, body weights, ages, and backgrounds. Research —can play a role in the likelihood of a person developing an eating disorder. Moreover, many people with eating disorders also experience mental disorders like depression and anxiety. Learning about the signs of an eating disorder, types of eating disorders, and treatment options can help dispel misconceptions about those with eating disorders. Read on to learn more about eating disorders and common myths surrounding them.

Myths about having an eating disorder

Many people experience difficulty with their relationship with food and their body image. There are many myths about people with eating disorders that are harmful to believe in and perpetuate, as these misconceptions can be isolating and prevent people from receiving support, empathy, and needed care. 

Common myths about having an eating disorder

Myths about eating disorders may be based on misrepresentation in media and film, as well as other sources. Some common myths about eating disorders include:

• The belief that an eating disorder is a lifestyle choice
• The belief that an eating disorder is about a person's vanity 
• The belief that an eating disorder is a way of getting attention
• The belief that an eating disorder is a passing phase
• The assumption that only young, affluent white women have an eating disorder
• The belief that an eating disorder is solely about food and weight
• The belief that a person with an eating disorder is trying to punish others 
• The belief that parents are solely responsible for their child or adolescent having an eating disorder
• The belief that an eating disorder doesn't affect people from diverse backgrounds
• The belief that one can tell that someone has an eating disorder based on their appearance
• The belief that the healing journey is easy or straightforward

Facts about eating disorders, including anorexia

Experts who work with those who have an eating disorder note that . The following are some facts about eating disorders:

• There is no single cause for someone developing an eating disorder. Contributing factors may include genetic, biological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors.
• Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and genders.
• Developing an eating disorder is not a matter of personal choice or lifestyle; however, a person's attempt to diet, lose weight, and become healthier can sometimes escalate into unhealthy behaviors.
• Parents are not responsible for their child's eating disorder but can play a significant role in helping them recover.
• Anorexia nervosa is a mental health condition involving intense preoccupation with one's weight and a fear of gaining weight, as well as distortions of one's body image.
• Many people with eating disorders experience a comorbid mental illness, such as depression or anxiety.
• Treatment of eating disorders typically involves multidisciplinary care, such as nutritional counseling, medical care, psychotherapy, and social counseling. 
• When a person is hospitalized to stabilize their health, the intensive care they receive can be seen as one step to recovery, not a cure-all, as recovery usually involves continuing treatment—whether in a residential treatment facility or outpatient clinic.
• While stabilizing a person’s weight and health is often considered the first goal of treatment, psychotherapy can help support their recovery by addressing the underlying factors influencing their relationship with food and their body.
• People of all weights and sizes can have an eating disorder, as eating disorders are typically less about the weight, shape, and size of people than about their evaluation of their self-worth and body image in relation to their shape, weight, and size.

Types of eating disorders

There are many different types of eating disorders. Some behaviors associated with eating disorders overlap across different disorders—such as binge eating behaviors in bulimia and one type of anorexia nervosa—but each condition is considered distinct. 

Most common types of eating disorders

In the United States, , a condition characterized by eating large quantities of food in a short amount of time and experiencing associated feelings of distress, guilt, and shame.

Other common eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder 
• Other specified feeding or eating disorder

Dispelling myths about anorexia nervosa

One of the main myths about anorexia nervosa is that it only affects young women. While anorexia may be more common in women, people of all genders, ages, body weights, and backgrounds can have anorexia. 

Possible signs of anorexia nervosa

 Depending on the severity of anorexia nervosa, symptoms may include:

• Denial of hunger
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• A sense of self-worth that is largely based on being thin or having a specific body shape
• Eating large quantities of food at once (in the binge eating type), followed by purging through vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, or exercising excessively
• Distorted body image 
• A tendency to constantly weigh oneself
• Minimal food intake
• Mood disturbances
• Low blood pressure
• Constipation
• In more severe cases, organ failure
• Feeling cold, dizzy, or tired
• Tingling or numbing in arms or legs
• Missed periods
• Skin that is dry or yellowish

The harm of eating disorder myths for mental health

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, about 30 million people in the United States have an eating disorder. These can be serious mental health disorders, and those wishing to address an eating disorder may wish to educate themselves on the complex factors that may influence their relationship with food and their body. 

The relationship between eating disorders and mood disorders

Having an eating disorder can significantly affect a person's mental health. For example, some findings suggest that many people with an eating disorder also experience a mood disorder, such as depression. 

Common mental health conditions affecting those with eating disorders

The following are some :

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Substance use disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• (H2) Treating eating disorders and mental and physical health 

The treatment options for eating disorders usually involve a holistic, multidisciplinary approach involving nutritional counseling, psychotherapy (talk therapy), and medical care. In some cases, hospitalization may be recommended to address complications arising from nutritional deficiencies. 

Therapeutic approaches that address eating disorders and mental health

Psychotherapeutic approaches for addressing symptoms and underlying concerns associated with eating disorders include: 

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy and enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E): Cognitive-behavioral therapy typically aims to help individuals change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that may be contributing to their eating disorder and relationship with food. Research indicates that CBT-E is  like anorexia nervosa. 
• Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT): Primarily used for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, IPT aims to relieve symptoms and improve a person’s way of relating to others. 
• Family-based therapy: Often used for children and adolescents with eating disorders, family-based therapy involves guiding the family to support the family member through the different phases of the healing process.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): ACT typically aims to help people more readily accept uncomfortable thoughts and feelings while committing to changing unhelpful behaviors that do not align with their long-term values and goals. ACT often encourages more flexible ways of thinking and responding to situations. 

Experiencing difficulty with your relationship with food?

Speak with a licensed therapist who understands

Considering therapy for mental health 

Many people encounter challenges coping with symptoms of an eating disorder and/or their relationship with food and their bodies. If you are concerned about having an eating disorder, you may benefit from speaking with a mental health provider. However, if in-person therapy isn’t available near you, you may benefit from online therapy, which enables you to have sessions with a licensed therapist from anywhere with an internet connection. You can speak to a therapist by phone, video, or live chat, in addition to using in-app messaging, which can be helpful if you experience challenges in between therapy sessions.

Several studies support the use of online therapy to address eating disorders. One review of telehealth therapy published in 2022 looked at 12 randomized controlled trials with a total of 931 participants . More than half of the studies used videoconferencing for therapy. Overall, the study found no significant differences between in-person and telehealth therapy.