This week is international Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The aim of this week is to raise awareness and reduce misunderstandings about eating disorders.
In 2024, 503 people were diagnosed with eating disorders, which was an increase of 118 on the previous year. More than 1 in 20 people in Ireland will develop an eating disorder in their life. We know that getting treatment early is really important to maximise the likelihood of recovery for eating disorders. We also know that the age of onset for many eating disorders is around the age that people are starting or attending college – 14-18 for anorexia, 14-22 for bulimia, and late teens to early twenties for binge eating disorder.
However, we also know that only about 5-15% of people with an eating disorder actually seek help. There are a number of reasons for this:
- The Irish National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders was only established in 2018, so prior to this there was no focus on this area by the HSE. As a result, while things are improving, there are still limited beds for those who need specialised inpatient treatment, and recruitment for eating disorders teams is still ongoing.
There are other reasons that are less systematic, and more due to misunderstandings and stigma. For example:
- Many people believe that eating disorders only affect females. This is false; an eating disorder can affect anyone of any gender – for example, 10% of those assessed for an eating disorder in Ireland in 2024 were male.
- Many people believe that eating disorders and body image issues are all about how people look. This is false; they are also often about feelings of shame, isolation, fear, control, guilt, anxiety, depression and indecision, and can sometimes stem from previous trauma in the person’s life.
- Many people believe that those with eating disorders are easily identifiable because they will appear really thin. This is also false – people with eating disorders are all shapes and sizes, and associating this stereotypical image with people with eating disorders can be damaging, as it perpetuates stigma. You cannot assume by a person’s appearance whether or not they have an eating disorder. There are many different reasons why people are the size they are, and those reasons may or may not be medical, and may or may not be within that person’s control.
Some things to note about eating disorders:
- There are five main types of eating disorders – Anorexia Nervosa – Bulimia Nervosa – Binge Eating Disorder – Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED). However, people can also display unhealthy or disordered eating behaviours that don’t meet the clinical threshold for and diagnosis of a disorder.
- Eating disorders are not a choice; there are different causes such as genetic and environmental causes and these will combine in different ways for each person.
- Unlike some other mental illnesses, eating disorders affect both your mind and your body
It can be hard sometimes to tell the difference between taking steps to be more healthy, and disordered eating. People with eating disorders can often feel like there is something fundamentally wrong with them, or conversely, they can fail to see that there is a problem with their eating behaviour. Developing an eating disorder can happen slowly over time so a person might not initially realise what is happening.
What if I think I might have an eating disorder?
It’s ok if you think you might have an eating disorder. It doesn’t change who you are as a person, nor does it diminish your value in any way. It’s an illness. The first step is to speak to someone. Your GP can be a good first port of call. There is a national organisation which specifically supports people with eating disorders called Bodywhys. They provide information and support groups, and you can find more information about them here https://www.bodywhys.ie/recovery-support-treatment/support-services-2/. An important thing to know is that you don’t need to have an official diagnosis to attend their support groups.
What if I know someone who has an eating disorder?
It’s important to listen to them using active listening. This means listening to hear and understand, rather than to provide solutions.
Try to avoid commenting on their appearance or weight, even in what you feel might be a positive or helpful way.
Remember that this is a condition that they have, not who they are as a person
Bodywhys have some more tips on supporting someone close to you with an eating disorder here https://www.bodywhys.ie/supporting-someone/
Remember, your size is the least interesting thing about you. You are a unique individual who is important in this world, even if it doesn’t feel like it. You are deserving of help. For more information about getting support for your mental health, please see here https://mentalhealth.usi.ie/sources-of-support-for-mental-health/
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