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.

Coping strategies for Binge Eating during lockdowns and beyond

Stress caused by lockdowns, changing restrictions and returning to usual routines post lockdown can impact our ability to cope with emotions and may lead to the use of a way of coping such as binge eating.

Body Image Tips For People Coming Out of Lockdown

Emerging from lockdown can be a daunting process, and anxiety is normal. Here are our top tips for minimising negative self-talk and increasing confidence in your body image.

The motivation behind Jack’s English Channel Swim

Jack Symonds successfully swam across the English Channel, raising over $275,000, in an incredible fundraising effort for Butterfly and Black Dog Institute.

My journey as a male with Anorexia: what helped me recover?

From the age of 10, Alex struggled with body dissatisfaction and restrictive eating. Male appearance ideals led him to develop an eating disorder.

Why recognising your thin privilege can reduce your perpetuation of weight based stigma and improve your body image

"Over the last few years, recognising my thin privilege has propelled me into unlearning fatphobia... As a by-product of this work, we can also improve our relationship with our own bodies. In this race to body acceptance, recognising our thin privilege compels us to take steps to acknowledge and unlearn weight stigma. It is in this context that we can all step into our power."

Fostering self-compassion and kindness coming out of lockdown

After being confined to our houses for months on end, it’s normal to feel anxiety about returning to a pre-lockdown life. Here are our top tips for strengthening your self-compassion and self-kindness.

It was never about the food: Understanding me and my diagnosis of Binge Eating Disorder

"As an adult, my larger size is what's visible and what's targeted, again aggressively, with rarely an attempt at understanding. Eating does not happen in isolation of everything else going on in a person's life and mind." Monica Catherine shares her journey with Binge Eating Disorder.

How to deal with Isolation and Weight Gain Memes

Memes and jokes around weight gain and appearance can be very triggering for anyone with disordered eating or body image concerns. Here’s how to handle triggering content you see on social media.

Why you shouldn’t let BMI define your health

In recent times it has been reported that the use of the BMI fosters weight-based discrimination and stigma, exacerbates mental health concerns such as eating disorders, increases body dissatisfaction [ii], and that it is “a very poor proxy of health… [that can] potentially lead to more harm than good”. Here's why you shouldn't let BMI define your health.

Jane’s Experience of Weight Stigma

For Weight Stigma Awareness Week, Jane shares her experiences of living in a larger body while recovering from an eating disorder.

Eating disorders – The language of seeking help

When Jaimee was diagnosed with an eating disorder at 12 years old, she struggled to communicate what she's experiencing. Now recovered and a registered counsellor, Jaimee is passionate about increasing conversations, checking in on those around you, and changing the language around eating disorders, so more people feel comfortable to open up and get the help they deserve.

Tips for parents as children/young people go back to school post-lockdown

As students and families prepare for the return to school post-lockdown, here are some tips and strategies for parents and caregivers to support their children and young people transitioning back to face to face learning.

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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.