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.

Tips for parents as kids go back to school

COVID and the abrupt restrictions enforced upon children/teens has impacted body image and eating and exercise behaviours in many ways. As students return to school over the coming week(s), here are some positive ways parents can help this transition by Danni Rowlands, National Manager of Prevention Services.

Commenting on someone’s weight can have lasting impacts

Lexie is a writer and mental health advocate. Having had personal experience of weight discrimination and lived experience of an eating disorder, she feels very passionately about celebrating people of all body types and wrote this blog to help promote the importance of Weight Stigma Awareness Week.

You don’t have to be a certain weight to experience an eating disorder

Weight stigma can prevent people from being diagnosed with an eating disorder. Which is exactly what happened to Raja. Raja is an Aboriginal woman from the Kalkadoon and Bwgcolman nations, in north Queensland. She's a mental health/ social and emotional wellbeing advocate and began her advocacy journey at the age of 17, after having a lived experience of poor social and emotional wellbeing.

Helping your daughter navigate social media

Parents can play a vital role in supporting their daughters to navigate social media in a positive way. Read this blog by our National Manager of Prevention Services, Danni, to learn more.

Why we need to change the body image conversation amongst young males

Read this blog by our National Manager of Prevention Services, Danni, and learn more about how parents can better support their sons to develop a healthy body image.

Eating Disorders: The Personal is Political

Melis shares her story of years of living with anorexia nervosa, and how she came to situate her individual experiences within a gendered social and political context. Now in recovery, Melis expresses her anger in response to the social and economic determinants that perpetuate body dissatisfaction.

Culture and Intersectionality: Life in Colour

Working in community development, TJ spends a lot of his time connecting with people through storytelling to support their mental health and wellbeing. Check out this blog he wrote as part of our #TalkingHelps Campaign.

Stay Strong VIC: 10 Tips to help you through

With additional restrictions coming into place across Victoria, it’s important to recognise that each person and family will be impacted differently. There will be easier days and there will be harder days. Be kind to yourself, reach out for support and please remember it’s ok not to be ok during this challenging time. Have a read of 10 tips we've put together to get you through.

They, Them, Their: Celebrating Non-Binary People’s Day

In honour of International Non-Binary People's Day we spoke with Lara about their experience of being non-binary. Check out our Q&A to read their powerful insight and learn more about why it is so important to validate one another...

Men, boys and eating disorders

In celebration of Men's Health Week, our Knowledge, Research and Policy Manager, Dr. Sarah Squire has written a blog discussing the realities and stigma men face when it comes to eating disorders.

How COVID-19 is affecting women recovering from eating disorders

Our Knowledge, Research and Policy Manager, Dr. Sarah Squire, provides her insights and research on how COVID-19 has been particularly challenging for women recovering from eating disorders.

Reconciliation, Eating Disorders and Aboriginal health

In honour of Reconciliation Week, Liz Dale, PhD student and descendant of the Worimi Nation, shares her insights on Aboriginal health and eating disorders.

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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.