Talk to someone now. Call our National Helpline on 1800 33 4673. You can also chat online or email

Eating disorders
What can cause an eating disorder?

It’s unlikely that one single thing will lead to an eating disorder. There is often a combination of risk factors, including genetics, emotional factors and cultural influences.

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Who gets eating disorders?

No matter your size, shape, age, abilities, gender identity, sexuality, cultural or linguistic background, economic status or location, anyone can experience an eating disorder.

Do you know someone at risk?

Approximately 9% of Australians will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime but it’s not possible to tell if a person has an eating disorder simply by their appearance.
Body image
What is body image?

Body image is the thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs we have about our bodies and how we look, including our shape, size, weight, and the way our body functions for us.

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Body image issues don’t discriminate.

There are many factors that can contribute to poor body image and body dissatisfaction. Body image issues affect people of all ages, genders and across all cultures.

Body image programs

Butterfly’s programs for young people, professionals and parents are evidence based and designed to provide practical strategies, skills and resources to support positive body image and healthy behaviours in young Australians.
Get support
Butterfly provides support, care, referrals and resources

Whether for you, a friend, a family member, a client, or anyone else that you care about, Butterfly is here to offer support.

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Butterfly’s National Helpline

Our helpline is free and confidential, and our specialist counsellors offer non-judgmental support over the phone, by email and by online chat, seven days a week.

Search Butterfly's Referral Database

Find eating disorder professionals, services and treatment nearest to you, through our Referral Database, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Health Professionals
Information, resources and referrals for your clients

Our Helpline and support services are not only for people impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, but also for clinicians and other health and education professionals.

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Butterfly referral database

Butterfly's Referral Database provides a directory of professionals, screened for an understanding of eating disorders, so people Australia-wide can find appropriate care..

Medicare items for eating disorders

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders may be eligible for new Medicare rebates under the Eating Disorder Medicare Plan.
School & Youth Professionals
Programs for people working with young people

Butterfly offers presentations, resources and workshops to teachers, professionals, young people and parents on the risk and protective factors for body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and eating disorders.

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Body Kind Schools

Support young people’s body image by joining Butterfly’s annual free schools awareness initiative. Finding ways to feel positive about your body can be challenging but we can all try to be kinder.

Butterfly Body Bright

A new whole of school program to promote positive body image and healthy attitudes and behaviours towards the body, eating, and physical activity in primary school-aged children.
Who we are
About Butterfly

Butterfly changes lives by providing support services, treatment and resources, delivering prevention and early intervention programs and advocating for the needs of those with eating disorders and body image issues.

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A Voice for Change

As the voice of lived experience, Butterfly advocates on behalf of people impacted by negative body image, eating disorders, and those who support and care for them.

Our Partners and Supporters

Butterfly is extremely grateful for the passion and commitment of our dedicated corporate and community partners.
Get involved
Ways to get involved

There are many different ways you can get involved and help bring about positive change for those experiencing eating disorders and negative body image. You are a vital part of the solution.

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Our Impact

Established nearly 20 years, Butterfly’s multi-skilled team continue to make a significant impact within the mental health sector.

Share Your Story

Every experience of an eating disorder is unique. Sharing stories from personal experience allows for reflection, understanding and connection.

Talk to someone now. Call our National Helpline on 1800 33 4673. You can also chat online or email

Home

Blog

A space for sharing all things body image and eating disorders related. All blog entries are written by our staff, those with a lived experience and professionals.

Learning to take care of my mind – my story of asking for help

Angelica grew up surrounded by diet culture, and it impacted her relationship to food and her body. In this blog, she shares how counselling helped to heal her mind, and why everyone should incorporate some 'body celebration' into their lives.

What do I do if I notice students aren’t eating at school?

Butterfly has seen an increase in the number of educators in both primary and secondary schools reaching out because of concerns about students not eating during the day and other problematic food behaviours at school. In this blog, Butterfly's Manager of Education Services Helen Bird discusses the resources available to help and why all schools should register for free Body Kind Schools activities dedicated to supporting young people to develop a positive relationship with food, eating and their body.

What is an eating disorder recovery coach and how do they help?

Have you heard of an eating disorder recovery coach? Coaches are becoming an increasingly popular addition to an eating disorder treatment team, but what do coaches do and how can they help? In this blog, Sophie and Olivia, who have both recovered from their own eating disorders, share why they were inspired to become recovery coaches and how a coach might be able to help you.

A Fitness Instructor in Eating Disorder Recovery Talks Healing From Toxic Fitness Culture

Whether it’s feeling intimated in the gym, only exercising for weight-loss, or being berated by fitness instructors to push your body to its limits, toxic fitness culture can be incredibly damaging. In this blog, Henry shares how he is navigating toxic fitness culture while in recovery from an eating disorder.

A Day in the Life of a Peer Support Worker

In this blog, Clare, who is a peer worker and senior advisor with Eating Disorders Victoria’s Peer Mentoring Program, shares what’s involved in a peer work program and why utilising lived experience can be a powerful tool for ongoing recovery.

World Eating Disorders Action Day: Real People, Real Recovery

On World Eating Disorders Action Day (WEDAD), Butterfly is joining over 250 organisations from 50 countries to spread the message that full recovery from an eating disorder is possible. Read recovery insights and tips from people who have recovered.

Appearance-based discrimination as a human rights issue – the case for legislative reform

In historic new legislation, New York City is set to ban weight discrimination. Butterfly's Head of Research, Knowledge and Policy Sarah Squires examines what this means for weight stigma reduction in an Australian context.

Sharing your lived experience safely

Sharing lived experience of eating disorders and body image concerns is key in reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking. But it's imperative this is done safely while taking a 'do no harm' approach. We asked our lived experience network, the Butterfly Collective, how people can ensure they are safely sharing their stories.

Using lived experience to help others: the eating disorder peer workforce

There is growing public policy interest in the development of the mental health peer workforce. But in the context of eating disorders, what does this look like, and what are the potential benefits and risks? Butterfly recently commissioned research to find out.

Why The Diet Failed You

"Have you ever felt like you failed a diet, or a diet failed you? You're not alone. Millions of people around the world go on diets every year, hoping to achieve the perfect body, health, or performance. However, most diets don't work in the long run, and some can even harm your physical and mental health. Why is that?" Non-diet dietitian Max shares why diets often fail and how they impacted his own experience of Orthorexia.

International No Diet Day: The link between eating disorders and diets

Research has linked diets as a strong risk factor for eating disorder development. Eating disorder early career researcher Melissa highlights why diets can impact eating disorders and how she was personally impacted.

How can we support people to share their lived experience of an eating disorder?

It’s critical to be supportive and respectful of those willing to speak up and share their experience of an eating disorder or body image concern – because not only do we know that Talking Helps, but sharing can help demonstrate full recovery is possible. We asked our Lived Experience community how people can be supported when sharing their lived experience.

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Butterfly acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work as the first people of this country.

We commit to embracing diversity and eliminating discrimination in health care. We welcome all help-seekers and strive to create a safe place for all people, irrespective of their size, shape, age, abilities, gender, sexuality, cultural background, language, economic status, profession or location.

Butterfly acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work as the first people of this country.

We commit to embracing diversity and eliminating discrimination in health care. We welcome all help-seekers and strive to create a safe place for all people, irrespective of their size, shape, age, abilities, gender, sexuality, cultural background, language, economic status, profession or location.