#27 OPENING UP ABOUT EATING DISORDERS WITH
​THE BUTTERFLY FOUNDATION 

“Eating disorders…serve a function. And it’s about the person experiencing, coming to the realisation that the costs are outweighing the benefits. That it’s a personal journey and it might take a long time for someone to realise, that ‘this is working in a little part of my life…but the big picture, it’s not really working. But I also have to have the knowledge and the faith that there is a better way of doing things.’” 
​
​​DISCLAIMER: The following podcast could contain triggering content for anyone currently experiencing an eating disorder or disordered eating behaviour. Please contact the Butterfly Foundation Support Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) if you become aware of any distressing symptoms.
 
Over 1 million Australians (about 1 in 20) currently have a clinically diagnosed eating disorder, and approximately 10% of Australians (15% for females) will have an eating disorder at some point in their life. I was shocked to find out these statistics from Juliette Thomson, the resident psychologist at The Butterfly Foundation.
 
The conversation today dives deeper into the unspoken reality of eating disorders - from my own personal experience, and the perspective of a clinical professional. I facilitated this conversation, wanting to open a window of understanding on the development of eating disorders and how we can best identify and support loved ones who may be grappling with this mental illness. As it happened, this podcast taught me far more about the complexities of identifying and understanding this highly prevalent mental illness.
 
Juliette and the Butterfly Foundation, passionately advocate that everyone’s experiences with eating disorders are different. There are also some shocking statistics regarding eating disorders that are worth being aware about. For example, on average, Anorexia affects an individual for around 7 years! However, for some the experience can extend for decades whilst for others this could be only two years.
 
I hope this conversation can assimilate with the Butterfly Foundation’s mission of being a catalyst for change and increase the awareness of eating disorders in our society. Certainly there are high-risk groups, but anyone and everyone can be affected by an eating disorder. I strongly urge you to reach out to the services of the Butterfly Foundation should you wish for additional support.
HELP & SUPPORT o   Phone 1800 33 4673 
o   Web Chat: https://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/our-services/helpline/chat-online/
o   Email: [email protected]  
RESOURCES
-          Fact Sheets & Tips: https://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/about-us/information-and-resources/
-          NEDC Sport & Fitness Resource: http://www.nedc.com.au/sport-and-fitness 
-          NEDC e-bulletins:
o   http://www.nedc.com.au/e-bulletin-number-twenty-four
o   http://www.nedc.com.au/e-bulletin-number-forty-four

 
 
Main Points From the Podcast
  • Identifying risk factors:
- Personality traits: perfectionism, ‘black & white’ thinking
- Emotional nature: conflict avoidant
- Societal/environmental aspects: how much emphasis does the surrounding environment place on appearance?
- Biological/mental processes
- Hereditary prevalence of diagnosed eating disorders
- Sensitivity to fullness (particularly for Anorexia)
- Coping mechanisms for stress

  • Common themes of eating disorder diagnoses:
- People who start diets and then notice the diet ‘taking on a life of their own’-
- Feeling a sense of achievement with food and controlling it and seeing pleasing results

  • Body Image:
- The media portrays the mental process of someone experiencing anorexia, as being a distorted view of body size and amount of fat. This is untrue in many cases.

  • Understanding the mindset of someone experiencing an eating disorder:
- Reduced flexibility in plans
- Purposefully overriding hunger cues to serve another function in the person’s life

  • Re-evaluating the strategies we use to teach healthy eating in schools and being aware of the language we use to talk about food.
  • Physical/Biological Symptoms for potential eating disorder
- Women: Amenorrhoea - impacts fertility, bone heath and osteoporosis, brain function, liver, kidney and heart function. Amenorrhoea can also be caused from stress and excessive exercise.
- Men: loss of testosterone, low libido, dry skin, frequently & unusually cold. 
​
  • Eating disorders effect people across the lifespan.
  • Recovery
- Listening to the loved one who is struggling and trying to understand their world
- Recovery is only possible when recovery is personally wanted 
 
“A lot of people don’t understand that eating disorders affect women and men across the lifespan. You would be surprised, when I tell people what I do for work, people will say ‘oh so you work with young girls,’ I say yeah I do, and I also work with 70 year-old women, and men!”

- Juliette
Hanny Allston
Website – www.hannyallston.com.au
Blog - www.hannyallston.com.au/blog/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hanny.allston/
Instagram - @hanny.allston
 
Hanny Allston Training Resources
Guidebook – http://www.hannyallston.com.au/trail-running-guidebook.html
UTA Training Packages - http://www.hannyallston.com.au/ultra-trail-australia.html
 
Contact Me – [email protected]
 
Find Your Feet Retail Store 
Website – www.findyourfeet.com.au
Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/findyourfeetaustralia/ 
Instagram - @findyourfeet 
More Podcast Recommendations
Find Your Feet Podcast Episode #11 Listening To Your Emotions with Clive Stack 

Find Your Feet Podcast Episode #16 Mental Health with Ben Hirst