Eating disorders are so widely misunderstood. The stigma surrounding eating disorders is still so prevalent, even amidst the increasing awareness and movement to decrease stigma around mental health/mental illness. On top of the stigma, there is a general and widespread lack of knowledge about what an ED (eating disorder) actually is, as opposed to what society and the media have taught us it is.

There are SO many myths and misconceptions about eating disorders that need to be addressed and corrected. For now, I am going to talk about one in particular that I wish I had the proper knowledge about while I was suffering in silence.

I have struggled with ED tendencies since I was 15 years old. It took me SEVEN YEARS before I even mentioned my obsessive food thoughts to my therapist.

I was always aware that these obsessive thoughts and behaviors were problematic and unhealthy. But due to the lack of knowledge and blind belief in the common myths, I didn’t even CONSIDER seeking help or even just telling someone what was going on. The thing that stands out the most to me when I reflect on why I didn’t ask for help sooner is…

I didn’t think I was skinny enough to have an eating disorder.

A common ED misconception is that they only affect those who are severely thin and underweight. The truth is that eating disorders affect people of ALL shapes and sizes. You cannot determine whether someone has an eating disorder by simply looking at them. EDs are a psychiatric illness, NOT a condition concerned with vanity.

EDs have a 20% mortality rate. More than any other psychiatric disorder. And people (including me) continue to struggle down this miserable path alone because society has taught us that in order to REALLY have an eating disorder we must look a certain way and be a certain weight.

Holy shit. That does not sit well with me at all.

In my personal experience with my ED, I have gained and then lost 20–25 pounds a total of 3 times. I have included the photos to give a visual of the considerable weight fluctuations I experienced. I want to make it clear that the point of the photos is NOT to show “before-and-after” or “progress pictures”. The point is to express that I was equally as miserable and active in my ED behaviors at every single shape and size that you see in those photos. So, I will repeat: YOU CANNOT DETERMINE WHETHER SOMONE HAS AN EATING DISORDER BY SIMPLY LOOKING AT THEM.

There are so many other myths that contribute to sufferers not getting the help they need. This only scratches the surface.

The stigma HAS to go. We MUST increase awareness and proper knowledge about eating disorders. People are suffering and DYING. Whether you are personally affected by an ED or not, it is vitally important that we ALL educate ourselves to end the stigma.

Thanks for reading.