Eating Disorders: Common Misconceptions

Do they actually think being that thin is attractive?
Some anorexics have a distorted body image and do not see themselves as thin. Others are aware that being so thin is not attractive, however vanity doesn't always play a role. In fact, many anorexics want to become unattractive so as not to draw attention to themselves. This is especially common in women who have been raped or sexually abused.

If someone is eating and is a healthy weight, they are fine. They don't have an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are characterized by a mindset and obsession over food. While they might not clinically fit an anorexic diagnosis at higher weights, the preoccupation with food and weight can be just as prevalent.

Why don't they just eat? It can't be that hard.
To an anorexic, eating has come to represent much more than simply food. Their emotions, fears and sense of identity are wrapped up in food/weight, so "just eating" is not as simple for an anorexic as it is for a non eating-disordered person.

If someone can have an eating disorder at a higher weight, and they don't have to be starving themselves, then how is an eating disorder different from a diet?
The difference is the function that the behaviors and thoughts serve in the person's life. Someone who is dieting is doing so for the purpose of losing weight. Their diet typically doesn't occupy their thoughts all throughout the day. And if it does, this doesn't last for an extended period of time. For someone with an eating disorder, the weight loss and food obsession serves some sort of emotional purpose. It's a coping mechanism. Eating disorders are functional illnesses-they serve a function other than just weight loss.

Eating disorders are for teenage girls and college kids. Adults grow out of it and are more responsible/knowledgeable about health.
Eating disorders affect people of all ages, both men and women.

Anorexics eat nothing at all.
Anorexia is diagnosed by calorie restriction, not calorie elimination.

Anorexics have no energy because they don't get enough food.
In many cases, just the reverse was true. Some anorexics are constantly over-energized, and can workout for hours at a time with very little food and sleep. however, this "honeymoon" period doesn't last forever, and the person will eventually crash.

They must get so hungry! I don't see how someone could go without eating.
Hunger is often irrelevant to an anorexic. It's more important to stick to their weight loss goals and rigid eating habits to maintain a sense of control and/or empowerment.

Anorexics die from starvation and being severely underweight.
While some die from this, anorexic deaths are more likely due to other causes, such as suicide or a heart attack.

Anorexics look emaciated and weak.
The weight criteria for Anorexia Nervosa is 85% of "expected" body weight or a BMI of 17.5. Most individuals do not look emaciated at these weights.

All anorexics think they are fat.
While many anorexics have a distorted body image, some are also aware of how thin they are.

The media is to blame for using skinny models and actresses.
Although the media certainly plays a role by promoting underweight women as beautiful, people don't acquire eating disorders by reading magazines and watching TV. If this were the case, everyone who read magazines or watched TV would have an eating disorder.

Why can't they just get over it? Why do some people maintain eating disorders for years on end?
The average length of an eating disorder is seven years. It takes a long time to fully recover (and some people never do) because eating disorders are very similar to addictions. Once someone learns how to cope in such a way, using healthier coping mechanisms might not seem as easy or as effective.

Finally, I have to say that one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone says "She was accused of having anorexia" or something to that affect. You don't "accuse" someone of having depression or anxiety. Similarly, you don't "accuse" someone of having an eating disorder as if that somehow makes them a bad person. It's just one little word, but it carries a large stigma.