5 Common Myths About Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are surrounded by myths that can create shame, delay treatment, and prevent people from seeking help. At Creating Your Journey, we believe in busting harmful stereotypes so people can access the support and compassion they deserve. Below, we break down 5 of the most common misconceptions—and reveal the truth.

⚠️ Myth 1: You can tell someone has an eating disorder by how they look.

✅ Truth: You cannot determine if someone has an eating disorder based on body size or appearance. Many people struggling with disordered eating live in bodies that appear “normal” or even “healthy” by societal standards. Eating disorders affect individuals across the weight spectrum—and every one of those experiences is valid.

⚠️ Myth 2: Eating disorders are a choice or a phase.

✅ Truth: Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions—not lifestyle choices, attention-seeking behaviors, or a passing phase. They often stem from trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, or a need to feel in control. Like other mental health struggles, eating disorders require professional, personalized care—not willpower.

⚠️ Myth 3: Only teenage girls get eating disorders.

✅ Truth: Eating disorders impact people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. While young women are often highlighted in media portrayals, these conditions also affect men, nonbinary individuals, adults, and children. Recognizing this helps reduce stigma and open the door for more inclusive support.

⚠️ Myth 4: If someone is eating, they must be “better.”

✅ Truth:Eating in front of others doesn’t always mean recovery. People with eating disorders can appear functional while still struggling with harmful thoughts, secretive behaviors, or body image distress. Recovery goes far beyond surface-level behavior—it involves mental, emotional, and physical healing.

⚠️ Myth 5: You have to be underweight to have an eating disorder.

✅ Truth:This is one of the most damaging myths. Many people with binge eating disorder, bulimia, orthorexia, atypical anorexia nervosa, and other forms of disordered eating may be in higher-weight bodies—or within what is considered a “normal” weight range. Weight alone is never an accurate indicator of severity or suffering.

✨ Let's Break the Stigma

At Creating Your Journey, our team of trauma-informed therapists offers compassionate, individualized care for people navigating eating disorders and disordered eating. We know that every journey is different—and every journey is worth honoring.

If you or someone you love is struggling, please know: You are not alone. Support is here. Healing is possible. 💙

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