9 Eating Disorder Myths That Harm and Truths That Heal
Eating disorders (EDs) remain some of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Despite decades of research, harmful myths continue to shape public perception and unfortunately, even the treatment landscape. These myths can prevent people from seeking help, perpetuate stigma, and lead to inadequate or even harmful care. So many people who struggle with food and body image fall through the cracks because of these myths and stereotypes. So if you haven’t felt valid in your struggle, let’s debunk some of these so that you can get the help you need and deserve.
As a therapist specializing in eating disorders and OCD, I see firsthand how misinformation impacts clients. The reality is that eating disorders are complex, deeply individual experiences that cannot be reduced to stereotypes. It’s time to challenge these misconceptions and replace them with truths that support healing, autonomy, and justice.
Myth #1: Eating disorders have one cause
Fact: Eating disorders are complex, multifactorial illnesses.
There is no single cause for an eating disorder. Genetics, biology, environment, attachment wounding, trauma, cultural pressures, and systems of oppression all interact in unique ways for each individual. Simplifying EDs to “a diet gone too far” or “control issues” erases the very real intersection of personal history and systemic forces that contribute to their development. Usually, in my practice I work with people who have a blend of triggers that come together as the “perfect storm” for an ED to develop. For example: eating disorders might run in their family (even if they went undiagnosed) and then the person goes through a major life stressor or trauma that triggers the genes involved to be expressed. Sometimes, it isn’t in the family history at all, but the environmental triggers are so big that an eating disorder develops. For example, growing up with food insecurity can lead to a full blown eating disorder even without a family history (Becker et al., 2017).
Myth #2: Everyone with an eating disorder is underweight
Fact: Only 4% of people with eating disorders are underweight.
The stereotype of the emaciated, white, teen girl not only misrepresents the reality, it actively harms those in big bodies or “average” weights, who may be dismissed or overlooked by healthcare providers. This is a big problem as it delays or even prevents access to treatment, leading to more medical and psychological complications. Due to this, some research shows that “atypical anorexia” is just as deadly if not more deadly compared to other Eating Disorders (Beck & Saucedo, 2019). Eating disorders affect people in every body size, and body size alone tells us nothing about the severity of the illness.
Myth #3: If you have an eating disorder, you must be hospitalized
Fact: Healing can look different for every person.
While some people require inpatient or residential treatment, many find healing through outpatient therapy, support groups, or community-based care. One-size-fits-all approaches ignore the diversity of recovery paths and can be inaccessible for those who cannot afford or take time away for higher levels of care. For eating disorder sufferers who don’t have access to healthcare, the notion that they must go through the proper levels of care might prevent them from seeking any kind of care, which is obviously worse. If you can’t afford paid help, there are many free support groups and even free recovery peer mentors available at ANAD and MEDA . There are also treatment scholarships available through Project Heal. Don’t give up just because your treatment may look different than someone else's! That being said, if you can seek healthcare, it is highly advised to work with a medical doctor, registered dietitian and specialized therapist.
Myth #4: Eating disorders are personal flaws you are solely responsible for
Fact: Systems of oppression influence the development of eating disorders.
Diet culture, anti-fat bias, racism, ableism, transphobia, and other systemic injustices all contribute to the onset and maintenance of EDs. These are not simply individual “choices” - not one “chooses” an Eating Disorder. They are often shaped by living in a society that upholds harmful ideals about bodies, worth, and belonging. For example, for a BIPOC person, making your body smaller via food restriction might (temporarily) make your body smaller and more palatable to white supremacy culture. It might be a protective strategy, though harmful nonetheless. Healing from racial trauma and other forms of oppression need to be central in Eating Disorder recovery (Brown et al., 2022).
Myth #5: Recovery means doing things the “right way”
Fact: There are many ways to heal, and you can define your own path.
Recovery is not a rigid checklist. What matters is not meeting someone else’s standard of what “recovered” should look like, rather, it’s reclaiming your agency, safety, and connection to your body in ways that work for you. Of course, being medically and psychologically stable is a great goal for everyone’s recovery, but the steps you take to get there can be unique to your life, values and needs. If you don’t know where to start in terms of defining your own recovery, I suggest exploring your core values and then processing with a therapist how these values can inform your recovery process.
Myth #6: Eating disorders are a “thin, white girl” problem
Fact: BIPOC and Trans folks have some of the highest rates of eating disorders.
White-centered portrayals of EDs erase the experiences of Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latine, mixed race, and trans communities, many of whom experience EDs at equal or higher rates than their white cisgender peers. These groups also face greater barriers to diagnosis and care due to systemic racism, transphobia, and medical bias. When we overlook minoritized groups, we add to systemic oppression and harm. Instead, we must seek to dismantle this and be inclusive of all bodies in eating disorder recovery- because no one should have to live in the mental torture that is an Eating Disorder.
Myth #7: People with EDs are ‘control freaks’
Fact: While some may seek agency due to trauma, EDs are not inherently about control.
Many clients describe using food and body behaviors to cope with overwhelming powerlessness or pain. But to frame EDs solely as “control issues” oversimplifies and stigmatizes a deeply complex experience. Someone needing a sense of control has likely faced life circumstances where they had none- leaving them powerless. It’s understandable then, to seek some way to feel a sense of autonomy. This is a basic human need and drive. This is very different from being “born a control freak.”
Myth #8: Recovery is purely a choice
Fact: Access to recovery requires resources, not just willpower.
Yes, recovery involves intention and there is a certain amount of choice involved. But it also depends on your access to resources- i.e. access to supportive care, financial stability, safe housing, and affirming relationships. Telling someone to “just choose recovery” ignores the structural realities that make healing possible. For example- the average cost per day at a residential program for Eating Disorders is upwards of $2000!
Myth #9: Harm reduction is enabling
Fact: Harm reduction is lifesaving and honors autonomy.
Meeting people where they are, rather than demanding immediate, complete cessation of risky behaviors, can keep them alive and engaged in care. Eating disorder harm reduction is rooted in respect for autonomy and recognition that healing is rarely linear. Harm reduction is also about keeping people safe and alive, not the opposite (Hassan, 2022). Harm reduction for eating disorders can look like a gradual reduction of behaviors or agreeing to a bare minimum amount of intake from a registered dietician that will keep you alive and give you the nutrients needed to sustain life. For more on this, check out this article: https://filtermag.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/EATING-DISORDER-HARM-REDUCTION-4.pdf
The Bigger Picture
Eating disorder recovery cannot be separated from the realities of systemic oppression. The myths we tell about EDs are not harmless, they directly influence who gets diagnosed, who gets care, and who is deemed “worthy” of recovery.
By challenging these myths and centering the voices of those most impacted, we create space for a more inclusive, compassionate, and justice-driven approach to healing.
You are not alone:
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, know this:
Your experience is valid. Your body is not the problem. And healing is possible. I have so much hope for you.
Feel free to reach out to me or a member of my team if you are looking to start therapy or recovery coaching.
References:
Becker, C. B., Middlemass, K., Taylor, B., Johnson, C., & Gomez, F. (2017). Food insecurity and eating disorder pathology. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 50(9), 1031–1040. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22735
Beck, A. R., & Saucedo, J. C. (2019). Food insecurity and eating disorders in college students. Journal of American College Health, 67(7), 662–667. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2018.1499652
Brown, K. L., Graham, A. K., Perera, R. A., & LaRose, J. G. (2022). Eating to cope: Advancing our understanding of the effects of exposure to racial discrimination on maladaptive eating behaviors. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 55(12), 1744–1752. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23820
Hassan, S. (2022). Saving Our Own Lives: A liberatory practice of harm reduction (Foreword by A. M. Brown; Introduction by Tourmaline). Haymarket Books.
