Is it enough to eat? — 5 persistent misconceptions about eating disorders
Eating disorders (BPD) are still largely misunderstood today. Although they are recognized as complex psychological disorders by medical authorities (including the DSM-5-TR), they continue to be surrounded by myths, judgments, and simplifications. These preconceived ideas, although often unintentional, can be very harmful for the people concerned, who feel misunderstood, stigmatized or guilty.
At Clinique A, we believe that understanding is a fundamental pillar of support. Here are five common misbeliefs that we want to deconstruct.
It is probably the most often heard sentence... and the most painful. Telling a person suffering from anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating that they only have to “eat” is like reducing a profound disorder to a simple food choice.
TCAs are not whims or conscious decisions. They are often an attempt — unconscious — to deal with overly strong emotions, a need for control, a painful self-image. Eating (or not eating) becomes a way to survive psychologically. It is therefore not a problem of will, but a symptom of a wider malaise.
Wrong The vast majority of those affected have a so-called “normal” or high weight. The idea that only a very lean body can be sick prevents thousands of people from seeking help, because they think they are not “bad enough” to be taken seriously.
ACDs are invisible disorders that can exist in a wide variety of forms, regardless of weight, appearance, or age. It's the inner pain and the behaviors associated with food that matter, not the body shape.
No Although adolescent girls are indeed a population at risk, ASDs can affect:
children, sometimes as young as 9—10 years old,
adults, including well over their 20s,
and also men, who are often underdiagnosed due to gender stereotypes.
Eating disorders do not discriminate by age, gender, culture, or body size. They are human, universal, and require care that is just as personalized as the experience of the person who consults.
Another false belief. While concerns about appearance are common in TCAs, they are often the tip of the iceberg. What is at stake in depth often affects:
- the need for control,
- the relationship with oneself,
- the management of emotions,
- the quest for perfection,
- or the desire to be recognized or accepted
It is therefore simplistic — and unfair — to think that ADHD is a “superficial” disorder. They reflect a discomfort that is much more complex than the body's sole question.
Not necessarily. A resumption of food or a return to a so-called “normal” weight does not mean that the person has recovered. In some cases, intrusive thoughts, anxieties, or compensatory behaviors persist well beyond physical improvement.
Recovering from an ACD is not only measured by weight, but by the ability to live peacefully with food, with your body and with yourself. It is a global, psychological and emotional process that requires time, patience... and a lot of support.
Behind every eating disorder, there is a story. One person. Emotions. Coping mechanisms that are often unconscious.
Behind each received idea, there is a risk of misunderstanding, shame or delay in care.
As a psychologist specializing in OCD, I invite you to replace judgment with curiosity, and fear with compassion. Every person in pain deserves to be heard, without conditions or comparison.
Do you recognize yourself in some of these examples? Are you worried about a loved one?
