For many people, the consumption of food is not meticulously monitored and calculated. Nor does it have an overpowering control on their lives.
But for more than one million Australians, a complicated relationship with food and their body has led to a battle with an eating disorder. And according to the Butterfly Foundation, less than a quarter of sufferers seek help and support.
This year alone the Butterfly Foundation’s helpline webchats have seen an increase of 116 per cent.
ReachOut have also seen a 75 per cent increase in people visiting their site with body image concerns between March and June.
“Young people are telling us that their [body image] concerns are being sparked by things like changing routines and more limited access to their usual forms of exercise,” said Ashley de Silva, ReachOut CEO.
The number of people online searching for mental health websites in Australia this year is alarmingly high, specifically during March and May.
Even though Headspace is well-known, the other mental health websites are also seeing notable rises.
Interestingly, Australia implemented restrictions in March and then changed back to lowering restrictions in May, resulting in rapid changes of established routines.
Despite the sudden rise in eating disorders, the Butterfly Foundation have been at the forefront fighting for more support and awareness about the illness since 2002.
The foundation’s annual reports show a major increase in people reaching out for support in the last four years, through various provided services.
Social media visits have the highest rise of contacts from 2016 to 2019, jumping from 58 thousand to 17 million.
Despite social media helping sufferers, in this case, the platform could be causing more harm than good.
Butterfly Foundation’s 2019 Insights in Body Esteem survey found the way we view our body is heavily shaped through what we see on social media.
Almost 58 per cent of people compare themselves to others on social media, and 48 per cent are left feeling extremely dissatisfied with their appearance.
A concerning statistic when more than 3.96 billion people are on social media worldwide and numbers are on the rise.
According to Professor Susan J Paxton from the Butterfly Research Institute, “more conversation and research is required” into body comparison and social media.
If the continuous rise in people suffering can tell us anything, it is that hard conversations are needed about the negative effect social media is having on our society.
(Featured Image: KAYLAH BAKER)
If you or anyone you know is experiencing an eating disorder, we encourage you to reach out for support. Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline is open every day between 8am and 12 midnight AEST – call 1800 334 673, connect via webchat or email support@butterfly.org.au. For urgent support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
