The Eating Disorder Recovery Blog

Eating disorders can take a great deal from the whole family, whatever the age of the sufferer. As parents it can feel heartbreaking to see your child finding themselves in such a difficult place, the illness taking hold and their lives pulled apart. Furthermore, those with eating disorders tend to socially withdraw and hide their pain, leaving parents at a distance feeling entirely helpless.

Muscle dysmorphia is a subtype of a mental health condition called body dysmorphic disorder, where a person spends a lot of time worrying about perceived flaws in their body. It is also associated with eating disorders, as it often leads to disordered eating behaviours.

Intuitive movement supports both body and mind. Instead of exercising to reach a certain body size or shape, intuitive movement is about choosing ways to move the body that will help us to feel better.

Body-editing apps are the newest trend fuelling body image issues in both men and women. Instead of supporting us to accept that we are all different and embrace our individuality, editing apps encourage us to conform to society’s pressures and only share a sculpted ‘version’ of ourselves.

Many people think that it is simply about being on a diet, however diet culture is a belief system that worships thinness and values a socially constructed ideal of beauty over health and well-being. This is why diet culture has become so dangerous and is strongly implicated in the rise of eating disorders and body image issues.