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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.

How can I develop a positive body image?

Feeling positive about your body is an individual journey and will be different for everyone. But creating body satisfaction, self-confidence, self-love, or even just body acceptance is possible.
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.

New residential treatment facility: Wandi Nerida

Our purpose-built, multidisciplinary staffed residence aims to provide a safe and healing environment for those most in need of psychological and physical care.
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

Our National Helpline provides referrals from our database of professionals, screened for an understanding of eating disorders, so people Australia-wide can find appropriate care.

New 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

A free initiative every September open to anyone working with young people. A fantastic way to connect empowering body positive messaging to EVERYONE in your school or organization.

How can I support boys’ body image?

The pressure on boys to look and be a certain way are increasing and body dissatisfaction is on the rise. We support schools and youth organisations in raising awareness, reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeing.
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

Need help?

Finding ways to like, accept, love or even feel positive about your body can be challenging in the world we live in today, but we can all try to be a little kinder.

Being Body Kind is how we nourish, nurture and move our bodies. It’s about the language we use out loud, online and in our heads – to ourselves and others.

What does it mean to be Body Kind?

Body Kind Schools

Foster body kindness and healthy body image in your school with our easy-to-implement activities

Open link

Body Kind Families

Help young people through the challenges of adolescence and encourage body kindness at home

Open link

Body Kind Online

Coming soon! Show body kindness towards your body and other peoples’ bodies online.

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Why Body Kind?

Being kind to ourselves and our bodies can help build healthy body image and supports mental health and wellbeing

This September, join Butterfly’s free annual awareness initiative to encourage everyone in Australia to be kind to their own body and to others; face to face and online. You will receive practical, evidence-informed tips, activities and webinars.

Get involved

Body Kind is FREE and open to anyone in the community who wants to learn to be kinder to their body, or help others to do so. Our focus this year is on:

Body Kind Schools – practical resources for educators to help foster healthy body image (formerly Love Your Body Week for Schools)
Find out more
Body Kind Families – to help parents and carers build body kindness at home.
Coming mid-August!
Body Kind Online – because body kindness online can impact on everyone’s lives and mental health.
Coming Soon!

Body image is in the top 3 of personal concerns for young people aged 15- 19.

1 in 5 adults have felt shame because of their body image in the last year

More than 1/3 of adults said they had ever felt anxious or depressed because of their body image

Let’s talk

Find out more about Body Kind and Butterfly prevention programs for young people, professionals and parents.

ENQUIRE NOW

Email us: education@butterfly.org.au

References

Mission Australia Youth Survey 2020

Mental Health Foundation (UK) 2019

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.

What can cause an eating disorder?

Who gets eating disorders?

Do you know someone at risk?

What is body image?

Body image issues don’t discriminate.

How can I develop a positive body image?

Butterfly provides support, care, referrals and resources

Butterfly’s National Helpline

New residential treatment facility: Wandi Nerida

Information, resources and referrals for your clients

Butterfly referral database

New Medicare items for eating disorders