Blog Post #4

 

There are many misconceptions surrounding the disease of anorexia nervosa. It is important to combat misconceptions with factual information so that this disease can begin to become less misunderstood and stereotyped. Anorexia Nervosa is far more complex than most people think, and I am going to share some very common misconceptions and what is actually the case with topics about anorexia.

 

Most people tend to think people with Anorexia are just behaving the way they do because they wish to be super skinny. This eating disorder is not a personal choice they are choosing and is a complex medical and psychiatric illness. There are several factors, including genetic, biological, environmental, and social factors, that play a role in who develops anorexia (Dennis, 2025). Most times, people with this disease still think they are fat and cannot see the reality that they are overly thin. This causes them to continue to become skinnier and skinnier due to having a warped reality about their own weight.

 

Another misconception is that anorexia is not a dangerous disease to have. This could not be any less true! Eating disorders have the second highest death rate out of any psychiatric diseases (Dennis, 2025). There are severe complications that this disease can have on your body and mind as well. Every organ system in your body is at risk of damage and can severely affect someone’s everyday life.

 

Another common misconception is that the disease only affects teenage girls. The disease can affect all ages, both men and women. Anorexia affects almost as many men as women and has become more common in men who identify as transgender or nonbinary (Dennis, 2025). This disease also only affects teenagers. It can develop or come back at any age. This can range from early childhood to older adults.

 

Also, many people believe that you must be severely underweight to have the complications or symptoms that are associated with anorexia. Some people look to be normal weight and have atypical anorexia, which has all the same psychological and physiological effects (Walsh et al., 2022). Sadly, due to the stereotype that you must be obviously underweight, these individuals usually go unnoticed and untreated.

 

Lastly, people believe that once someone is eating healthy again and is back to a healthy weight, they are recovered. While this step is necessary for recovery, there is still much more work for someone with anorexia to do to be considered recovered. Psychologically based therapy is important for patients to do as well, as this disease is not only a physical disease but a very mental-related disease as well. Healthy eating and weight are not sufficient for full recovery (Myths about Eating Disorders, 2025).

 

 

References

 

Dennis, Amy. “Busting the Myths about Eating Disorders - Neda.” National Eating Disorders Association, 3 Apr. 2025,                            www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/busting-myths-about-eating-disorders/.

 

“Myths about Eating Disorders.” Myths About Eating Disorders - Eating Disorder Program - Adolescent Medicine - Golisano Children’s   Hospital - University of Rochester Medical Center, 2025, www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/adolescent/eating-                     disorders/myths.

 

Walsh, T., Hagan, K., & Lockwood, C. (2022). A systematic review comparing atypical anorexia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36508318/