Content warning: This story mentions specific details about different kinds of eating disorders.
Not sure if you’ve noticed, but there’s a lot of discourse about eating disorders at the moment. The current climate is brimming with opinions on GLP-1s, SkinnyTok, and a general shift away from the body positivity and body neutrality movements of the later 2010s, which means speculation about people’s bodies is absolutely everywhere and nearly inescapable. And because content creators and celebrities are in the public eye, they’re center stage in the society-level scrutiny over potential eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating.
It isn’t wrong to bring more awareness to the various ways in which some of us have struggles surrounding food, but there’s a crucial nuance missing from the current discussion. Constant commenting, critique, and theorizing over the health of public figures’ bodies can reinforce the harmful idea that eating disorders have a certain “look,” explains licensed clinical psychologist Jessie Menzel, PhD, who is also the vice president of clinical programs at Equip, a virtual eating disorder treatment program. “The real danger in this narrative is that it doubles down on the misconception that eating disorders only look like thinness.”
Historically, eating disorders have been associated with the “SWAG” stereotype: the skinny white affluent girl. But in reality, they impact far more demographics than that one. For example, a 2019 study found that Black and Latina women had a higher likelihood of developing eating disorders from girlhood to adulthood than white women did. Additionally, transgender youths and adults tend to be diagnosed with eating disorders more often than cisgender folks, with trans men being the most directly impacted, per a 2023 analysis. None of this even covers the fact that the stereotype also excludes folks in larger bodies who battle eating disorders, too.
The body type element here is important not to miss, but equally important is the fact that the root cause of eating disorders isn’t physical or something visible at all. “What people truly need to understand is that, at their core, eating disorders are neurobiological illnesses,” says Menzel. “They’re driven by genetics and by distinct differences in how the brain processes information related to food, reward, and the body.” Ultimately, all of this leads to “intense, negative emotions that drive eating disorder behaviors.”
One of those behaviors or coping mechanisms to soothe those overwhelming feelings looks like restricting food intake and starving yourself. The other is the opposite: It is developing a loss of control over food consumption to the point where someone tries to “undo” or “make up for” what they ate in the aftermath. Both of these are very dangerous habits, but they are not at all rooted in an attempt or desire to simply be skinny.
“While thinness can sometimes be a byproduct of these behaviors,” says Menzel, “it isn’t the defining core of the illness.” The point begs reiterating: “Eating disorders are driven by a brain-based struggle with intense emotions—not a specific body type.”
Somehow, this cultural moment has given some people license to talk about eating disorders flippantly and with limited knowledge. The golden rule has always been to just not comment on someone’s body, but Menzel says we can even go a step further than that. “Whenever we address this topic, whether at a macro level in the culture or at a micro level with a loved one, our conversations and concerns should be anchored in a person’s behavior, emotions, and mental health. That is where the real illness lives.”
If you have concerns about a close loved one, Menzel suggests saying something like, “I’ve noticed that the last few times we’ve gone out to dinner, you seemed to just pick at your food. I’m just wondering if something is going on and if you’re okay. You can tell me anything.”
Above all, the most important thing to know is that someone’s appearance doesn’t tell the full story—it’s merely a flashing light for a potential deeper emotional and mental issue. “When someone’s look changes drastically in any direction, it’s often a signal that something is happening beneath the surface,” says Menzel. “If we want to genuinely support people and dismantle the misconceptions around eating disorders, we have to stop treating them as cosmetic issues.”
If you are concerned that you or someone you know is experiencing behaviors related to eating disorders, call the free helpline at the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at (866) 662-1235. You can also call the free National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) hotline at (888) 375-7767.
