Stigma and Eating Disorder Treatment

On average it takes about three years for someone to seek help for an eating disorder. Why three years? Well, many reasons can be attributed to this long wait. One attribute that is incredibly persistent across the board is stigma associated with having an eating disorder. There is so much shame tied within the words anorexia, bulimia, binge eating that keeps people from seeking the support that they need to work through these painful ways of living. Additionally, there is a stigma associated with the way a person with disordered eating should look. They should be extremely thin, they should have a low BMI, they should look ‘unhealthy.’

Eating disorders do not discriminate against size… 

The fact of the matter is that eating disorders do not discriminate against different bodies. This negative stigma is even seen in the medical world. Many medical professionals have their own misconceptions tied to weight stigma that manifests in the advice that they give to their patients. This reinforcement is seen in examples of professionals advising their patients to lose weight before seeing the big picture or assuming that someones presenting problem is their weight when they walk into their office in a larger body. These individuals often get bypassed during disordered eating assessment, which can further validate that there is nothing wrong and they should continue eating, restricting, binging, purging, etc., as they do… 

“If I admit that I have an eating disorder that makes it more real…”

Stigma against eating disorders is also seen when someone fears being judged if they seek support with their eating disorder. Many people believe that by admitting there is something they want to change in their life, they are also admitting that there is something wrong with them. This belief system completely dismisses an individual's experience of why they have developed an eating disorder. Thought eating disorders can be incredibly complex, at their root, they are a protective mechanism to dismiss something that feels even more painful. Therefore, an eating disorder helps mask a deeper underlying feeling. The brain and the body have created a very clever way of dealing with this underlying feeling. What gets lost in translation is that the disordered eating behavior is way more painful in the long run than working with a trained professional to uncover the deeper layers. 

The stigma of health and wellness 

Health and wellness is a form of stigma against disordered eating as well. The world is currently obsessed with the health and wellness ideal. We see it everywhere; photos of health foods on social media, different health diets, the idea that thinness is a choice… the list goes on. The fact of the matter is that there is a stigma against individuals in bigger bodies, certain foods, and disordered eating as a whole within our society. People are shamed for eating certain types of foods and people are shamed for looking certain ways. This shame alone can be the motivator keeping someone from reaching out for support. Though the isolation that comes from this shame can only make things worse. 

The truth about eating disorder recovery

You do not need to be too thin, too sick, or too confused to deserve support. The earlier you seek support with your disordered eating, the better. Disordered eating can feel really confusing and eating disorder treatment can help. 

Eating disorder treatment in Boulder

Eating disorder treatment is individualized for each client. Together we will establish what your goals are. It is time to stop living a life that is consumed by thoughts of food, body image, and negativity. If you are interested in learning more about how I work with eating disorders I encourage you to read more here or contact me below. 

-Ellie