Breaking the Myths: What Eating Disorders Really Are There’s a lot of misinformation out there about eating disorders. So much, in fact, that many people don’t even realize they’re struggling—because their experience doesn’t match the stereotype. That’s the problem.
Eating disorders are often misunderstood, minimized, or judged through a narrow lens, when in reality, they’re complex, deeply rooted mental health conditions that go far beyond food. Let’s break down some of the most damaging myths and uncover the truth behind what eating disorders really are
Myth #1: Eating Disorders Are Just About Food or Vanity Truth? They’re rarely about food alone. For many, including myself, food became a way to cope—a tool for control, a distraction from pain, or a response to trauma. It wasn’t about being thin for the sake of appearance. It was about managing anxiety, numbing emotions, or feeling some sense of power in a world that felt chaotic.
Myth #2: Only Teenage Girls Get Eating Disorders This couldn’t be further from the truth. Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds. Men struggle with them. Older adults do too. Non-binary and transgender individuals are also disproportionately affected. It’s not a “girl thing”—it’s a human thing.
Myth #3: You Have to Be Underweight to Have an Eating Disorder Many people think you need to “look” sick to be sick. But eating disorders don’t always result in weight loss. You can be any size and be deeply unwell. Disorders like bulimia, binge eating disorder