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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Butterfly’s National Helpline

Our helpline is free and confidential, and our specialist counsellors offer non-judgmental support over the phone, by email and by online chat, seven days a week.

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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Our Impact

Established nearly 20 years, Butterfly’s multi-skilled team continue to make a significant impact within the mental health sector.

Share Your Story

Every experience of an eating disorder is unique. Sharing stories from personal experience allows for reflection, understanding and connection.

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.

Do you really believe in full recovery from an eating disorder?

UK mental health campaigner Hope Virgo shares her advocacy journey and how you too can be involved with changing the landscape of eating disorder treatment - but it has to start with a belief that full recovery is possible.

How I supported my partner through an eating disorder

Todd shares how he helped his partner through an eating disorder, and what you can do to provide support to your loved one.

Behind the eating disorder app resource, Love Your Kite

Love your Kite is a practical resource in the form of an app that supports people on their Eating Disorder recovery. Co-founder Genevieve Mora shares how the app came to fruition, her experience of recovering from Anorexia, and how speaking up, sharing her story and spreading awareness has now become her purpose in life.

Leaves Overflowing: My Journey with Anxiety and an Eating Disorder

"Moving forwards in my recovery from also living with an eating disorder, I've had to learn and develop new skills on how to manage and cope with my anxious thoughts and feelings. I often find myself in knots over and over again as my mind races uncontrollably. I often feel out of control, and that's when my eating disorder attempts to swarm straight back in. But I choose to not let it overrule me and to not go down that path." - Hannah

Navigating the Intersection between Anxiety and my Eating Disorder

In honour of OCD and Anxiety Disorders Awareness Week (4th-10th August), Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Korey Baruta shares how she navigated the intersect between her anxiety disorder and eating disorder.

Managing eating disorder relapses amid COVID-19 and lockdowns

Relapse can be a normal part of the recovery process, so is not a sign of failure if eating disorder thinking and/or behaviours return, especially during stressful times.

Non-Binary Day through a lived experience lens

"You can have curves, wear male clothes, have short hair and wear make up. You are the master of yourself. Bodies are just bodies, your heart and mind are more important than aesthetics." In celebration of Non-Binary Day, we asked members from our lived experience network what being non-binary means to them, and how it has affected their body image.

How to navigate the ‘Zoom Effect’ and stay body confident on video calls.

For over a year now, Australia has been forced to adapt to a new "COVID normal", with fluctuating restrictions forcing many to develop new ways of remaining socially connected to our colleagues, friends, and family. It's resulted in a sometimes overwhelming use of video chats, and new research says that this is resulting in greater body dissatisfaction. Here's how to remain body confident while on zoom.

Ambivalence to Eating Disorder Recovery

Having ambivalence towards eating disorder recovery is common; a part of you might really want to cling to your illness, while at the same time another part of you wants to free yourself from the hold your eating disorder has over you. Learn why this is the case and how to overcome ambivalence to eating disorder recovery.

Being a BIPOC, curve model in Australia

"I know this memory because I recognise it as a defining moment of knowing that the way I looked and my skin colour will influence people‘s connections and reactions to me." BIPOC model Mahalia Handley is passionate about increasing diversity and representation in Australia, because she knows what its like to be discriminated against for your skin colour, size and appearance.

Being non-binary and having an eating disorder: A trans person’s experience

Research suggests that trans people experience eating disorders at four times the rate of their cisgender peers. In celebration of Pride Month, Queer advocate Stevie Lane shares their journey towards body acceptance after overcoming an eating disorder.

Body politics, loving myself and my queerness

"I have always been a bigger bodied person. Being socialized as a woman and growing up in a world where my body was sexualized and only validated by it’s ability to fit in with current beauty standards, as well as early childhood sexual assault, left me with eating disorders. Binge eating, bulimia and anorexia. My build is wide and curvy so it was kept unnoticed. Along with these unpleasant relationships to my body, I also knew from a young age that I was queer, which definitely fuelled a feeling of alienation that I had already attached to being a chubby kid." Social media producer at ABC Queer, Miki, shares their thoughts on body politics and queerness for Pride Month.

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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.