Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions involving a person’s relationship with food, eating and body image. They can affect people of any age, gender, body size or background. They aren’t a lifestyle choice or something a person can simply decide to stop.
This page is deliberately general. It focuses on when to seek help rather than listing specific symptoms or behaviours in detail, since that kind of detail can be unhelpful or harmful to read, particularly for anyone currently unwell. If you’re worried about yourself or someone else, please reach out to one of the services below or to a psychologist directly, rather than trying to self-diagnose from a checklist.
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders involve a significantly disrupted relationship with food, eating or body image that causes real distress and affects physical and psychological wellbeing. They include several recognised conditions, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorders. Each has different patterns, and all are serious.
Eating disorders are not primarily about food or appearance, even though they often present that way. They usually involve deeper difficulties with control, identity, emotional regulation or self-worth, which is part of why recovery involves psychological support, not just changes to eating.
They can affect people of any body size, gender or age. Someone can be seriously unwell without it being visible to others.
What contributes to eating disorders?
Psychological factors
Perfectionism, difficulty tolerating uncertainty, low self-esteem, or using control over eating to cope with difficult emotions.
Biological factors
Genetics and individual differences appear to influence vulnerability.
Social & cultural factors
Cultural messaging around appearance and worth, and comparison including via social media, though rarely as a sole cause.
Life experiences
Significant transitions, stress or difficult experiences can act as a trigger in someone already vulnerable.
Co-occurring conditions
Eating disorders frequently occur alongside anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive patterns.
Eating disorders usually develop from a combination of these factors rather than any single cause, and they are never a matter of vanity or simple willpower.
How are eating disorders treated?
Specialist psychological therapy
Approaches such as CBT for eating disorders (CBT-E) and family-based treatment (particularly for younger people) have strong evidence.
Multidisciplinary care
Treatment usually involves a team: a psychologist, GP, dietitian and sometimes a psychiatrist, working together.
Medical monitoring
Because eating disorders can have serious physical effects, medical oversight is an important part of safe treatment, particularly in the earlier stages.
Family & support involvement
For younger people especially, involving family in treatment is often an important and effective part of recovery.
Recovery is possible, and many people who receive appropriate treatment go on to build a healthy, sustainable relationship with food and their body.
When should I seek support?
You don’t need to wait until things feel unmanageable.
Given the seriousness of eating disorders and the value of early intervention, we’d encourage starting with the Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline or your GP as a first step, alongside or before booking with a psychologist. They can help guide you to the right level and type of care.
- Food, eating or body image is taking up a lot of your time, energy or emotional wellbeing
- Your relationship with food or your body has become hard to control, or is affecting your health
- People close to you have expressed concern
- You’re supporting someone else who may have an eating disorder and aren’t sure how to help
Given the seriousness of eating disorders and the value of early intervention, we’d encourage starting with the Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline or your GP as a first step — alongside, or before, booking with a psychologist. They can help guide you to the right level and type of care for your situation.
- Butterfly Foundation National Helpline 1800 33 4673 — Support for eating disorders and body image, 7 days a week (1800 ED HOPE).
A GP can set you up with a Mental Health Care Plan under Medicare’s Better Access scheme, which covers a rebate for a set number of psychology sessions each year.
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Get matched with a psychologistFrequently asked questions
Can you have an eating disorder without being underweight?
Yes. Eating disorders affect people across the full range of body sizes. A person doesn’t need to be underweight, or for their difficulties to be visible, to be seriously unwell and deserving of support.
Are eating disorders about vanity or wanting to look a certain way?
No. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions usually rooted in deeper difficulties with control, emotional regulation, identity or self-worth, not simply a desire for a particular appearance.
Can someone recover from an eating disorder?
Yes. With appropriate, often multidisciplinary treatment, many people fully recover and build a healthy relationship with food and their body. Recovery can take time and support, and that’s a normal part of the process.
What should I do if I’m worried about a friend or family member?
Expressing genuine care and concern, without judgment, and encouraging them to reach out to a GP or the Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline, is a good starting point. The helpline can also provide guidance specifically for supporting someone else.
Do I need a GP referral to see a psychologist about an eating disorder?
You can see a psychologist directly, though given the value of coordinated medical care, involving your GP early is strongly encouraged. A GP can also help you access an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan under Medicare, which can provide additional rebated sessions beyond the standard Mental Health Care Plan.
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