Talk to someone now. Call our National Helpline on 1800 33 4673. You can also chat online or email

Eating disorders
What can cause an eating disorder?

It’s unlikely that one single thing will lead to an eating disorder. There is often a combination of risk factors, including genetics, emotional factors and cultural influences.

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Who gets eating disorders?

No matter your size, shape, age, abilities, gender identity, sexuality, cultural or linguistic background, economic status or location, anyone can experience an eating disorder.

Do you know someone at risk?

Approximately 9% of Australians will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime but it’s not possible to tell if a person has an eating disorder simply by their appearance.
Body image
What is body image?

Body image is the thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs we have about our bodies and how we look, including our shape, size, weight, and the way our body functions for us.

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Body image issues don’t discriminate.

There are many factors that can contribute to poor body image and body dissatisfaction. Body image issues affect people of all ages, genders and across all cultures.

Body image programs

Butterfly’s programs for young people, professionals and parents are evidence based and designed to provide practical strategies, skills and resources to support positive body image and healthy behaviours in young Australians.
Get support
Butterfly provides support, care, referrals and resources

Whether for you, a friend, a family member, a client, or anyone else that you care about, Butterfly is here to offer support.

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Screening Tool

Use our simple and anonymous screening tool to help you know if you are experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder.

Search Butterfly's Referral Database

Find eating disorder professionals, services and treatment nearest to you, through our Referral Database, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Health Professionals
Information, resources and referrals for your clients

Our Helpline and support services are not only for people impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, but also for clinicians and other health and education professionals.

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Butterfly referral database

Butterfly's Referral Database provides a directory of professionals, screened for an understanding of eating disorders, so people Australia-wide can find appropriate care..

Medicare items for eating disorders

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders may be eligible for new Medicare rebates under the Eating Disorder Medicare Plan.
School & Youth Professionals
Programs for people working with young people

Butterfly offers presentations, resources and workshops to teachers, professionals, young people and parents on the risk and protective factors for body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and eating disorders.

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Body Kind Schools

Support young people’s body image by joining Butterfly’s annual free schools awareness initiative. Finding ways to feel positive about your body can be challenging but we can all try to be kinder.

Butterfly Body Bright

A new whole of school program to promote positive body image and healthy attitudes and behaviours towards the body, eating, and physical activity in primary school-aged children.
Who we are
About Butterfly

Butterfly changes lives by providing support services, treatment and resources, delivering prevention and early intervention programs and advocating for the needs of those with eating disorders and body image issues.

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A Voice for Change

As the voice of lived experience, Butterfly advocates on behalf of people impacted by negative body image, eating disorders, and those who support and care for them.

Our Partners and Supporters

Butterfly is extremely grateful for the passion and commitment of our dedicated corporate and community partners.
Get involved
Ways to get involved

There are many different ways you can get involved and help bring about positive change for those experiencing eating disorders and negative body image. You are a vital part of the solution.

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Donate now

You can help prevent eating disorders and negative body image today and provide support to those who are affected.

Donate Monthly

Make an even bigger impact by donating monthly to help us plan ahead for our programs, treatment facility, support groups, and more.

Talk to someone now. Call our National Helpline on 1800 33 4673. You can also chat online or email

Home

Blog

A space for sharing all things body image and eating disorders related. All blog entries are written by our staff, those with a lived experience and professionals.

Bringing Body Appreciation and Gratitude into the Classroom

By integrating practices of body appreciation and gratitude into your classroom, using positive language, and creating an environment that celebrates diversity, you can help your students develop a healthier, more positive relationship with their bodies. We provide tips and practical suggestions to make it easier.

Should I watch a movie or tv show about eating disorders?

Living with an eating disorder can feel isolating, and it’s natural to crave connection with someone who understands or validates our experience. Given these feelings, it’s natural we might be tempted to watch TV shows, movies, or other media content about other people’s experience with disordered eating or an eating disorder – but how do you know if this is going to be helpful or harmful for your recovery, and what can you do if you are triggered by certain content?

How personality traits can impact eating disorders

An eating disorder is never a choice, and understanding the various risk factors that contribute can help in prevention, early intervention and recovery. In this blog, we explore the link between certain personality features and eating disorders and provide advice and support to manage.

Tips for eating disorder recovery from LGBTQIA+ people

June is Pride Month, dedicated to celebrating the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and standing up against discrimination and violence. In this blog, we share tips for eating disorder recovery from LGBTQIA+ people.

Helping students to develop a positive relationship with physical activity: tips for educators

Educators play a pivotal role in shaping students' perceptions and attitudes towards physical activity. In this blog post, Butterfly’s Education Manager Helen Bird discusses how educators can encourage young people to move more, in ways that are enjoyable and support their mental and physical health, without doing any harm or reinforcing weight stigma and diet culture.

How to use Butterfly’s new Eating Disorder Peer Workforce Guidelines

Butterfly's Head of Knowledge, Research & Policy Dr Sarah Squire explains why Butterfly developed the first national Eating Disorder Peer Workforce Guidelines, what was involved in the process and how to use them.

Let’s Talk about ARFID

ARFID is more than just ‘picky eating’ – it is a serious eating disorder with potentially damaging health consequences. We spoke to people who have experienced ARFID to learn more about the challenges of this eating disorder and share advice for others currently impacted or those caring for a loved one.

How to #QuietTheNoise of an eating disorder this festive season

An estimated 75% of people with eating disorders will also experience a toxic inner ‘voice’ or noise. This ‘self-talk’ can play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of disordered eating behaviours, and has been linked to high rates of relapse, longer duration of illness and greater use of compensatory behaviours. We asked our recovery and support team for their advice on how to Quiet the Noise of an eating disorder this festive season.

Keeping diet culture out of Halloween: advice for parents on language around food

Halloween is a great opportunity to foster a healthy relationship with food in your children and emphasise that all foods belong and can be enjoyed in a varied diet. But like any holiday that centers around food, diet culture can creep in. We provide advice for parents on language around food.

World Teacher’s Day: How educators can support eating disorder recovery

Educators are in an incredible position to set the next generation up for success - but how they respond to mental health concerns, like eating disorders, can play a pivotal role in a young person’s recovery. For World Teacher's Day, Jess shares how her teachers' support made all the difference in her eating disorder recovery. We also share eating disorder and body image resources for teachers.

Simple acts to make your loved one’s life easier when they have an eating disorder

Eating disorders can be incredibly isolating, and families and carers can have a pivotal role in an individual's recovery. We asked people with lived experience for their advice on how loved ones can best support their eating disorder, in support of Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2023.

What do I do if I notice students aren’t eating at school?

Butterfly has seen an increase in the number of educators in both primary and secondary schools reaching out because of concerns about students not eating during the day and other problematic food behaviours at school. In this blog, Butterfly's Manager of Education Services Helen Bird discusses the resources available to help and why all schools should register for free Body Kind Schools activities dedicated to supporting young people to develop a positive relationship with food, eating and their body.

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Butterfly acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work as the first people of this country.

We commit to embracing diversity and eliminating discrimination in health care. We welcome all help-seekers and strive to create a safe place for all people, irrespective of their size, shape, age, abilities, gender, sexuality, cultural background, language, economic status, profession or location.

Butterfly acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work as the first people of this country.

We commit to embracing diversity and eliminating discrimination in health care. We welcome all help-seekers and strive to create a safe place for all people, irrespective of their size, shape, age, abilities, gender, sexuality, cultural background, language, economic status, profession or location.

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