Australia’s first tiny homes eating disorder recovery village opened on the Sunshine Coast on April 1, supporting people leaving treatment who cannot yet safely return home.
endED House of Hope operations lead Laura Chamberlain says online content is progressively influencing vulnerable people.
“We are increasingly seeing the impact that online body ideals and appearance-focused messaging can have on people vulnerable to eating disorders or disordered eating behaviours,” she says.
“Social media can create an environment where unrealistic standards around body shape, size, fitness, ‘wellness’ or food are normalised and constantly reinforced.
“There are also concerning trends where harmful behaviours are disguised as ‘health’, ‘discipline’ or ‘self-improvement’, making it harder for people and families to recognise when something has become unsafe.”
But she stresses that eating disorders are complex.
“It is important to acknowledge that eating disorders are complex mental illnesses with multiple contributing factors – including genetic, psychological, environmental and social influences,” Laura says.
She says it is incredibly important for people in recovery to be surrounded by messages focused on strength and health rather than appearance or being ‘smaller’.
“Recovery from an eating disorder is not simply about restoring physical health,” Laura says.
“It is also about rebuilding identity, self-worth, trust and safety outside of appearance-based thinking.
“The transition out of treatment can be an especially vulnerable time, as individuals are often returning to environments filled with diet culture, comparison and messaging that equates worth with body size or appearance.”
Even positive language can be complicated: “It is also important to recognise that even terms like ‘strong’, ‘healthy’ or ‘fit’ can sometimes become complicated within eating disorder recovery.”
Because of this, messaging is evolving.
“Rather than focusing on appearance or even perceived health ideals, it can be more supportive to promote messages around nourishment, wellbeing, flexibility, connection, rest, purpose, joy, safety and quality of life that you have energy and presence to enjoy,” Laura says.
“Recovery looks different for every person, and supportive messaging should centre on how someone feels and functions, rather than how they look or whether they meet a particular image of ‘health’.”
For more information about endED, visit ended.org.au.
