Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week (BIEDAW) is a national week to raise awareness of body image concerns and eating disorders, celebrated annually in the first full week of September (1-7 September 2025).
This #BIEDAW, we’re ‘Unpacking the Why’ to expand understanding of how eating disorders develop and how to access support. Because when we know why, we can provide better support.
What causes eating disorders?
Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses. There is never one cause of an eating disorder – an eating disorder develops due to a combination of biological, psychological and sociocultural factors.
Eating disorders are not always related to body image – while body dissatisfaction is one of the leading risk factors in developing an eating disorder, it is important to understand other causes and risk factors that may contribute. Eating disorders can also develop due to a range of other influences, including but not limited to…
- Trauma
- Sensory sensitivities
- Genetics
- Personality traits
- Culture
- Family history
- Co-occurring health conditions, such as diabetes, endometriosis and others.
No matter how the eating disorder developed, recovery is possible, and Butterfly is here to help.
Why is building awareness still essential?
With eating disorders still widely misunderstood in society, spreading awareness is essential.
- 1 in 10 people in Australia will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. [1]
- The number of people impacted by eating disorders has increased 21% since 2012. [2]
- Less than one in three (30%) of individuals affected reach out for help. [3]
- Less than a quarter of people have referred someone they’re concerned about to support services. [4]
- 1 in 7 (14%) agree people with eating disorders could ‘snap out of it’. [5]
- Only 11% of people living in Australia can spot the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder. [6]
Understanding and spreading awareness about the diverse risk factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders is essential in identifying at risk groups, providing effective early intervention and improving treatment and support.
Unpacking the Why
The 2025 BIEDAW theme ‘Unpacking the Why: What causes eating disorders’ builds empathy for the many people whose experiences of an eating disorder may lead them to feel ‘invisible’ behind common stereotypes. Because when we show the full picture, we send a clear message: I see you. I want to create safety for you to talk about what’s really going on. I want to support you in ways that work for your own individual experience.
BIEDAW 2025 Events & Activities
BIEDAW is a collaboration between Butterfly, Eating Disorders Victoria, Eating Disorders Queensland, Eating Disorders Families Australia, ANZAED and NEDC. Stay tuned for more events & activities you can get involved with!
Webinar: Unpacking the Why
Eating Disorders Victoria: Stories of Recovery webinar
The factors that can lead someone to develop an eating disorder are broad and diverse. Even one individual may experience a mix of ’causes’. In this Stories of Recovery webinar on Wed 3 Sept, 10am-11:30am (AEST), hosted by Eating Disorders Victoria, you’ll hear from a mixed panel of people who have recovered from an eating disorder, as well as a carer and a clinician.
Support and Share BIEDAW
Lived Experience Blogs
Lived Experience Insights - Unpacking the Why
Learn more
[1] Butterfly Foundation, Paying the Price 2024
[2] Butterfly Foundation, Paying the Price 2024
[3] Butterfly Foundation, Community Insights Report 2024
[4] Butterfly Foundation, Community Insights Report 2024
[5] Butterfly Foundation, Community Insights Report 2024
[6] Butterfly Foundation, Community Insights Report 2024
If you’re interested in covering Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week in the media, or want to learn more about how you can get involved, please get in touch with our Communications team comms@butterfly.org.au.
