Beyond the stereotypes
Five common misconceptions about eating disorders
By Lindsie Meek
Few mental health conditions are as misunderstood or as deadly as eating disorders. They will affect an estimated 28.8 million Americans in their lifetime and are second only to opioid use disorder in mortality rates. Despite these staggering facts, eating disorders are still surrounded by myths, stereotypes, and misinformation. These misconceptions don’t just shape public perception—they shape treatment access, diagnoses, and the way people experience their own suffering.
In this post, we’re breaking down five of the most common – and harmful – myths about eating disorders, and why it’s time to replace them with truth, nuance, and compassion.
Myth 1: You can tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them
We live in a culture that’s deeply preoccupied with body size, and that obsession can blur our ability to see people clearly. Here’s the truth: eating disorders don’t have a “look.” They affect people of all sizes, shapes, genders, and backgrounds. While the stereotype paints Anorexia as thinness taken to the extreme, this image leaves out so many who are struggling. Disorders like Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) can show up in bodies that don’t match society’s expectations.
The medical system can also reinforce these misconceptions. The DSM-5 still uses Body Mass Index (BMI) as part of the criteria for Anorexia. So if someone meets all the signs of Anorexia but lives in a fat body, they’ll likely be diagnosed with “Atypical Anorexia Nervosa” — a label that often leads to less recognition, less support, and an even greater sense of isolation. Many internalize the message that they aren’t “sick enough” to deserve help, even if their behaviors are just as severe.
But science tells a different story. People with Atypical Anorexia can experience the same serious medical risks — like slowed heart rate, missed periods, and dangerous electrolyte shifts — as those with Anorexia at a lower weight. The difference is, they’re often overlooked. Biases in both our culture and healthcare systems continue to prioritize thinness as a marker of illness and health, when the truth is far more complex.
Eating disorders start in the mind. The body may show signs, or it may not. That’s why we need to widen our lens. Healing begins when we stop assuming—and start listening.
Myth 2: Eating disorders only affect white, female adolescents
This stereotype has been dominant for decades but it’s dangerously incomplete. People of all races, genders, ages, body types, and socioeconomic backgrounds struggle with eating disorders.
BIPOC individuals, men, and people in LGBTQ+ communities are often under-diagnosed and under-treated, not because they’re less affected, but because they’re less recognized by a system built around a narrow idea of what an eating disorder “looks like.” Studies show that Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Indigenous individuals are just as likely (if not more likely) to experience disordered eating behaviors, but far less likely to be screened or offered treatment. Misdiagnosis or invisibility in clinical settings can delay care and worsen outcomes.
Myth 4. Binge eating is a lack of willpower
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting more people than Anorexia and Bulimia combined — yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized. Often dismissed as “overeating” or a failure of self-control, BED is a serious and diagnosable mental health condition.
BED is characterized by recurring episodes of eating large quantities of food, often rapidly and to the point of discomfort, accompanied by feelings of loss of control, shame, or guilt. These episodes aren’t about indulgence — they’re often rooted in emotional pain, past trauma, chronic dieting, and physiological responses to restriction. Research shows that people with Binge Eating Disorder are less likely to be referred for specialized care compared to those with Anorexia Nervosa, despite experiencing similar levels of psychological and physical impairment.
BED deserves the same clinical attention, compassion, and access to care as any other eating disorder. It’s not a moral failing — it’s a mental health condition that requires understanding, support, and treatment.
Myth 3: It’s just about food, weight, or wanting to look a certain way
At first glance, eating disorders might seem like they’re about wanting to be thin, eat “clean,” or stay in control — but those are surface-level symptoms of something deeper. Behind the behaviors is often a complex web of emotional pain: anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, self-doubt, or a desperate need for control in an unpredictable world.
Food, restriction, binging, or compensatory behaviors become coping tools, ways to manage what feels unmanageable inside. For some, disordered eating offers a temporary sense of relief, safety, or identity in the midst of inner chaos.
Recovery isn’t just about food or body image. Yes, those are part of the work — understanding what drives the behaviors and what keeps them going. But true healing means tending to the root: the beliefs, patterns, and pain that gave rise to the disorder in the first place.
Myth 5: If someone is eating again, they must be fine now
Recovery isn’t always visible. Someone might be eating regularly, showing up to meals, and follow their treatment plan — and still be fighting an internal battle. Eating disorder behaviors may stop before the thoughts and feelings do. That’s because recovery isn’t just about food. It’s about healing the relationship with the body, easing the grip of intrusive thoughts, and untangling the deeper emotional patterns that fed the disorder in the first place.
Full recovery is possible, but it doesn’t happen all at once. It’s layered, personal, and often non-linear. Just because someone appears “better” doesn’t mean they feel better. They might still be navigating shame, anxiety, perfectionism, or fear of relapse.
Beyond the Myths: The Truth about Recovery
Healing takes time, care, and ongoing support. Just because progress isn’t always visible doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Recovery is a journey of returning to yourself or finding yourself for the first time — with patience, compassion, and the understanding that real healing goes far beyond what’s on the plate.
If you or someone you love is struggling with disordered eating, please know that recovery is possible. Early intervention saves lives. Reach out to a healthcare provider who specializes in eating disorders, contact the National Eating Disorders Association helpline (800-931-2237), or visit ANAD.org for support resources and treatment options.
Understanding starts with education. Share this information to help dismantle harmful stereotypes and create a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported in their healing journey — regardless of their size, gender, race, or background. Every person deserves compassionate care. Every story matters. And recovery, in all its forms, is worth fighting for.
REFEReNCES
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Deloitte Access Economics. (2020). The social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America: A report for the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders/
Goode, R. W., et al. (2022). Addressing racial and ethnic disparities in eating disorder treatment. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 45(1), 135–149. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9875472/
Harrop, E. N., Mensinger, J. L., Moore, M., & Lindhorst, T. (2021). Restrictive eating disorders in higher weight persons: A systematic review of atypical anorexia nervosa prevalence and consecutive admission literature. Journal of Eating Disorders, 9(1), 162. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33864277/
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. (2024). Eating disorder statistics. https://anad.org/eating-disorder-statistic/
National Eating Disorders Association. (2023). Eating disorders in LGBTQIA+ populations. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/general-information/lgbtq
National Eating Disorders Association. (2024). Atypical anorexia. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/atypical-anorexia/
Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (2020). Intuitive eating: A revolutionary anti-diet approach (4th ed.). St. Martin’s Essentials.
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