Top 5 myths about eating disorders and their treatment

Homewood Health Centre treatment facility in Guelph, Ontario. supplied

Homewood Health Centre in Guelph, Ontario, offers the largest inpatient eating disorders program in Canada. Individuals aged 16 and older receive evidence-based, personalized inpatient treatment through a structured and intensive 16-week program, specifically designed to address anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED).

Given the complexities of eating disorders and their serious, sometimes fatal consequences, early diagnosis and timely access to treatment are crucial. However, misunderstandings and stereotypes about who is affected by an eating disorder and the goals and potential outcomes of treatment can be harmful, preventing individuals from seeking the help they need.

Joanna Anderson, director of the Eating Disorders Program and Special Projects at Homewood Health, aims to dismantle these potentially damaging myths. Below, she shares insights and facts to help people see the true picture.

Myth #1: 

Only young women develop eating disorders 

Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, genders, body sizes, races and ethnicities. In our program, we are currently treating a number of males. For the past 10 years, clinicians have been emphasizing that men and boys do have eating disorders, and now we’re seeing more men seeking treatment. We’ve also been discussing how eating disorders can affect both men and women during midlife transitions. If an individual and their family believe they can’t have an eating disorder because they don’t fit the stereotype of an underweight young woman, it can delay treatment and worsen the prognosis. Debunking these stereotypes has helped us develop more timely, specialized and inclusive treatments. 

Myth #2: 

You can tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them  

Not all people with an eating disorder have visible changes to their bodies. Many people with bulimia, for example, have normal or even above-average body weight. Focusing on the external, visible aspects diminishes the true nature of the disorder, which is internally focused. Eating disorders persist as a way of coping with internal pain, such as anxiety, depression and trauma. To truly help patients, we must address the root causes of their pain and teach new skills and behaviour. 

Myth #3: 

Eating disorders are always about food and weight 

This myth, like the previous one, takes a superficial approach to the disorders. Focusing on external issues such as food, body, weight and shape is like looking at an iceberg, where the tip is above water but much more lies beneath. Eating disorders are not really about food; that’s just the manifestation of the person’s pain. Their effort to control food and their body is their way of trying to solve deeper problems. One helpful question in treatment is, “What makes it safe for you to express your pain in this way versus another way? Why does this feel okay for you, and how can we work together to help you build the skills to deal with your feelings differently?”

Myth #4: 

Eating disorders are a conscious choice or pursuit of a “lifestyle”

Part of stigma is the perception that an eating disorder is something you brought on yourself by choosing to chase after an ideal self. This belief is neither realistic nor factual. The other side of this myth is the idea that you can readily “choose” to stop this unhealthy behaviour. It’s important to understand that people in the throes of an eating disorder lose belief in their power to choose. While it may start as an attempt to gain control over eating or predictability in their lives, our clients describe how it quickly takes control of them. It’s no longer their choice or subject to their decision-making. Eating disorders are linked to a complex array of factors: genetic predisposition, brain chemistry, trauma, thought processes, family history, environment and responses to the environment.

Myth #5: 

Recovery from eating disorders is impossible or rare 

Recovery is indeed possible; through professional treatment and support, there is hope for a healthier way of coping and living. Specialized programs like ours include a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, registered psychotherapists, social workers, occupational therapists and dietitians. Through collaborative work with the team and the client, we provide full weight restoration and nutrition rehabilitation; individual, group and family-inclusive therapy; and music and art therapies to support physical and emotional well-being. Healing and full recovery are possible with the right help and support. 

Are you or someone you care about living with an eating disorder? Reach out today to learn more: 1-866-264-3244  HomewoodHealthCentre.com/EDP    

To view this report on The Globe's website, visit globeandmail.com

To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition Eating Disorders Awareness Week