Eating disorders can’t wait – Butterfly Foundation calls for critical funding support
Butterfly Foundation, the national charity for eating disorders and body image issues, calls for Labor, the Coalition, the Greens and Community Independents to commit to $9.9 million in funding for critical mental health promotion and prevention services as part of the 2025 Federal Election.
Eating disorders cost Australia $67 billion every year in economic and wellbeing losses, with 1.1 million people affected. Research has shown that the number of people affected is increasing, the age of onset is dropping, and the impacts are worsening.
“Eating disorders among children and young people aged 10-19 has almost doubled in the last decade. The choice is clear – act now on prevention, or face catastrophic health consequences for generations to come,” said Butterfly CEO Dr Jim Hungerford. “Every month 100 people die from, and 10,000 develop, an eating disorder, and it is critical that the government invest to stop this emerging crisis in eating disorders.”
“This escalating crisis is being driven by factors such as diet culture, food and weight shaming, social media and appearance ideals. Now over half of 12-18 year-olds, and a third of adults, are dissatisfied with how their body looks. Eating disorders cost Australia $67 billion each year. Butterfly is calling for $9.9m extra funding over 3 years for prevention and early intervention initiatives to address this urgent need – this equates to less than 1 cent a day for each person in Australia currently living with an eating disorder,” he added. “Without action our health system will be driven further into crisis.”
“We have met with politicians on all sides over the last six months. The time for talk is over, the time for action for the more than 1 million people living with an eating disorder is now.”
Butterfly Foundation and other leading mental health advocates are deeply concerned at the lack of funding for mental health prevention, including eating disorders, in the Australian Government’s 2025-26 budget announcement and similarly in the Budget response from the Coalition.
While the Labor Government’s earlier announcement of funding for digital mental health services, which include Butterfly’s National Helpline, is welcomed, there is no new funding into eating disorders or other mental health conditions to prevent these complex and serious conditions from occurring in the first place. Similarly, the Opposition, while announcing a $400 million commitment to mental health, is vague on details and it is not clear whether any of this funding is intended for mental health prevention and/or eating disorders.
As previously announced, the Government has committed $150k to the Butterfly Body Bright primary school program; but more funding is desperately needed. Body Bright includes tools and resources to build and maintain positive body image, prevent body dissatisfaction, and reduce appearance pressures, and is being accessed by nearly 900 primary schools across Australia.
“Despite being a strength-based, evidence-informed program, Butterfly Body Bright is operating on shoestring, and we will continue to struggle to reach the school children who need it most,” said Dr Hungerford.
People like Hanna, who has a lived experience of an eating disorder, who missed out on this critical support as a student. “Going home after a school day I would be left with a wave of heaviness. Body shaming and bullying wasn’t discussed very often or taken seriously when I was at school – if there had been more support and education, I believe the outcome may have been different,” she said.
According to Butterfly Foundation, it is clear that eating disorders, and their biggest modifiable risk factor, body image issues, are at the forefront of many peoples’ minds. “The number of media articles about eating disorders has tripled over the last 12 months to an average of 6 per day,” said Dr Hungerford. “Increasingly heartbreaking personal stories are appearing in the media, of children at risk, families in despair, people unable to cope.”
Butterfly has never been funded to do critical mental health promotion work and this lack is reflected in today’s escalating crisis. This election is an opportunity for all sides of politics to stand up for those living with eating disorders. They cannot wait in the shadows any longer.
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Media Contact
Zoe Bradbury, Communications Manager
0400 58 58 55
Editor and producers note: Please include the following support line details in all media coverage of this story and refer to the Mindframe Media guidelines for safe reporting on eating disorders. Please include the following helpline message.
Help and Support
Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact:
- Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or support@butterfly.org.au
- Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
- For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14
The Butterfly National Helpline is a free, safe, and confidential service providing counselling, support groups, information, and referrals to health professionals around Australia screened for an understanding of eating disorders. All Butterfly National Helpline counsellors are qualified mental health professionals with specialist training in eating disorders and body image.
About Butterfly
Butterfly is Australia’s leading not for profit supporting everyone affected by eating and body image issues. You can find out about Butterfly and our prevention services for schools and communities at www.butterfly.org.au or contact our education team – education@butterfly.org.au
