DEBUNKING MYTHS ABOUT

Eating Disorders
MYTH 1: ALL ANOREXICS ARE SKIN AND BONES
According to a new study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of
Medicine and the University of California-San Francisco, teens and young adults
with atypical anorexia nervosa can have regular body weights (with a BMI between
18.5 and 25) and still be unwell. The study found that one-third of patients admitted
to hospitals for anorexia treatment are of normal weight. "Patients with atypical
anorexia are just as sick, medically … but they may be even sicker, psychologically,"
said Dr. Neville Golden, a professor of pediatrics at the Stanford School of Medicine
and co-author of the new study.

 MYTH 2: THE TERM “EATING DISORDER”

REFERS SOLELY TO ANOREXIA AND BULIMIA
Besides the above two, which are the most well known, other eating disorders
include EDNOS/OSFED and pica. When a person has symptoms of disordered
eating, but doesn’t fit the criteria for a diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia nervosa,
they may be diagnosed with EDNOS/OSFED. EDNOS refers to Eating Disorder Not
Otherwise Specified, while OSFED refers to Other Specified Feeding or Eating
Disorder. OSFED is the most prevalent* of all eating disorders. Pica is an eating
disorder in which a person eats things not usually considered food, such as grass
and dirt. While less well known, these eating disorders, along with many others, are
no less serious than anorexia and bulimia nervosa.
MYTH 3: ONLY TEENAGE GIRLS CAN
DEVELOP EATING DISORDERS
Eating disorders can happen to anyone – any gender, any race or ethnicity, and
importantly, any age. According to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication
(NCS-R), it is true that eating disorders appear in early adulthood: the median age
of onset for bulimia and anorexia is 18, while the median age of onset for Binge
Eating Disorder (BED) is 21. Eating disorders in adults typically develop in early
adolescence, but go undiscovered and untreated for many years. This problem is
exacerberated by the lack of support for adults with eating disorders.
Furthermore, many of the symptoms are mistaken for other illnesses, or as a
common part of the aging process, which makes the issue even more elusive.
If you are struggling with an eating
disorder, reach out to trusted
loved ones or call a helpline in
your country for assistance
immediately as eating disorders
can be damaging to your health if
left untreated!