Myths and Realities of Eating Disorders

We’d like to discuss some of the myths and realities of eating disorders. The truth is that there are many eating disorder myths out there, and these myths may prevent people from recognizing the symptoms of eating disorders or dissuade them from seeking treatment. Please feel free to contact us, or speak with a doctor or therapist, if you have questions about any other myths and realities of eating disorders.

Eating Disorder Myths	Eating Disorder Realities
Only women get eating disorders.	While eating disorders are more common in women, men get them too.
Only teenagers get eating disorders.	People of all ages, including young children, can have eating disorders.
Men with eating disorders must be gay.	Sexual orientation has nothing to do with eating disorders.
Eating disorders are about food.	Of all the myths and realities about eating disorders, this may be one of the most important to understand. Eating disorders are not about food. Rather, they are a symptom of deeper emotional issues.
It’s impossible to recover fully from eating disorders.	Recovery usually takes a lot of time and hard work, but people can and do recover.
You can tell when someone is anorexic by the way they look.	This is another of the common eating disorder myths, but it’s not true. While some people with anorexia are very underweight and appear ill, others are only slightly underweight and appear healthy.
People with anorexia don’t binge or purge; that’s what people with bulimia do.	People with bulimia do binge and purge, yes, but some people with anorexia also binge or purge sometimes.
People with anorexia don’t eat junk food like chocolate, cookies and candy.	Some people with anorexia avoid those foods but others eat them. Anorexia is about restricting calories. Some people with anorexia eat only a limited number of foods, but others eat a wide range of foods.
People with bulimia purge by throwing up.	This is another of the myths and realities of eating disorders that can make it difficult for some people to recognize symptoms of eating disorders. The fact is, some people with bulimia throw up, while others use laxatives or diuretics, exercise excessively or fast for periods of time.
Bulimia isn’t fatal.	This is one of the more dangerous eating disorder myths. The mistaken belief that bulimia isn’t as serious as anorexia may cause people to delay seeking treatment. The truth is that people sometimes die from all eating disorders, including bulimia. Cardiac arrest sometimes occurs due to electrolyte imbalances. A ruptured esophagus due to excessive vomiting can also be fatal.
Compulsive eating isn’t really an eating disorder.	In fact, it is an eating disorder and is just as serious as disorders like anorexia and bulimia. When examining the myths and realities of eating disorders, it’s important to understand how very serious they all are.
Compulsive eaters just need to go on a diet and/or exercise.	Compulsive eaters rely on food to cope with emotions. Just as people with anorexia and bulimia need medical and psychological treatment in order to recover, compulsive eaters need treatment, too.
People can only have one eating disorder at a time.	People can have more than one eating disorder at the same time. They may display symptoms of one disorder more than another, but they can suffer from more than one.
People with eating disorders are only trying to get attention. They don’t care about hurting their friends and family.	This is another of the very harmful eating disorder myths. People with eating disorders are suffering from a psychological disorder. They don’t develop a disorder to get attention or to hurt anybody else. In most cases, they feel bad about the effect their disorders have on others.