Health Practitioners

Eating disorders don’t discriminate, and occur in females and males, across all age groups, across all socioeconomic groups and cultural backgrounds. It is not possible to tell if a person has an eating disorder simply by looking at them. The Butterfly Foundation have estimated that about one in 20 Australians has an eating disorder:

• 47% have BED (Binge Eating Disorder)
• 12% have BN (Bulimia Nervosa)
• 3% have AN (Anorexia Nervosa)
• 38% have OSFED (Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders)

Eating disorders occur on a spectrum which may range between normal eating, disordered eating and DSM classified eating disorders.

• Normal eating may be defined as going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. 
• Disordered eating may be described as a disturbed and unhealthy eating pattern that can include restrictive dieting, compulsive eating or skipping meals. Behaviours can impact on emotional, social and physical wellbeing.
• Eating Disorders are a serious mental illness, symptoms of which are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5.