The need for eating disorder training in medicine: From a student doctor with lived experience

While World Mental Health Month might have passed, I believe we should always be reflecting on the importance of prioritising mental well-being, starting meaningful conversations, and breaking down the stigma that prevents so many from seeking the help they need.

I’m currently studying Medicine in Australia and one thing I’ve realised that is people need to consider that healthcare providers are humans too. There is so much pressure as a medical student to be “well” and “healthy” (and I’m sure this doesn’t go away once you graduate). The common belief seems to be that if you know better, then you can circumnavigate ever being sick. But health conditions, including mental ill-health, can impact anyone. And when it’s not ok to admit to not feeling ok, it feels easier to hide it beneath the surface. Looking after our mental health is essential – not just when things are tough, but every day.

I have a lived experience of an eating disorder, and I was cautioned by future colleagues and teachers against sharing my experiences. I was warned that people in my future profession would judge me, and I’d be disadvantaged throughout my career.

And although I appreciate they were looking out for me and trying to help safeguard my future, that advice didn’t sit right with me. That attitude needs to change. Someone needs to step forward, because silence breeds stigma, and stigma breeds shame.

Having been unwell, whether it’s related to physical or mental health, doesn’t make me any less of a doctor. It is something so inherently human. Everyone gets sick at one point or another and very human has good days and bad days. It is that shared humanity that allows us to relate to our patients and genuinely connect with them, which in turn allows us to be better, safer practitioners.

There is clearly not enough awareness of eating disorders within medical tertiary education – and it extends into the curriculum.

While I have attended lectures and completed classes on ob*sity as a ‘disease’, I have not received sufficient education/training in eating disorders.

When the medical school went out of its way to include detailed discussions on other ‘sensitive’ issues such as palliative care, many different types of cancer, transgender health, and female genital mutilation, I struggle to understand the reason why ‘eating disorders’ was the topic that was deemed ‘too sensitive’ to go anywhere near. It is not just me who has this concern. Many people identified this gap in our learning and have asked for further education, but were told to research it ourselves.

GPs and many specialties are now getting their staff to up-skill in eating disorder  knowledge as it has been recognised as an area where knowledge is lacking and preventing early recognition/intervention – which is vital to improving outcomes and helping people reach full recovery.

But by not teaching medical students, we are counteracting all that effort. Eating disorders will present, and can be picked up, across the medical (and whole health) system. There is not one specialty that wouldn’t benefit from a sound understanding of these conditions. No one benefits from missing this part of our education, and many people could be harmed from uneducated doctors joining the workforce and failing to recognise eating disorders.

I appreciate my lived experience means I am more passionate about eating disorder education and advocacy than most, but we cannot afford to leave eating disorders out of the conversation (and curriculum).

If we don’t teach it, it becomes taboo – a further barrier to reaching out for care, which is already so incredibly hard and daunting. And I know from my own lived experience that when the predominant message is that mental ill-health and eating disorders are a choice, or not a serious illness, it is so much harder to ask for help.

As doctors (and care providers) if we don’t know about something, we may feel uncomfortable or even scared to engage with those patients. We need to be informed so we are a safer setting for patients to come in and seek help. Doctors have a responsibility to address all health conditions – eating disorders are prevalent and will definitely be seen throughout our careers. It is perpetuating avoidance of treating eating disorders, implying they are ‘too hard’, ‘incurable’ or ‘a waste of time’.

This might not be as big of an issue if there wasn’t so much stigma, misinformation and myths surrounding eating disorders in society – and if eating disorders weren’t increasing in prevalence. But the number of people impacted since 2012 has risen by 21% and when it comes to young people aged 10-19, eating disorders have increased by 86% (Butterfly Paying the Price 2024).

Of course, fighting anorexia is hard. But for me, facing the stigma around the illness was just as difficult. People hear ‘eating disorder’ and make assumptions that I just care about appearance and vanity. They don’t realise that under all the visible behaviours is a deep-seeded desire to feel acceptable or ‘good enough’, to feel some sense of control, or an attempt to avoid otherwise overwhelming and unmanageable emotions. And it’s pivotal that when people present to a healthcare professional with these concerns, that they are met with understanding – not judgement, dismissal and stigma.

If we are to ever reduce the prevalence of eating disorders, and create a society where people are seen as more than just a body, we need to see increased education around eating disorders at a tertiary level – but we also need more recognition that anyone can struggle with these illnesses and it doesn’t make them less capable or a flawed person – including healthcare professionals themselves.

Written by Sophie, a medicine student in Australia.

Learn more

• NEDC: Eating disorders in tertiary education – The tertiary education sector was identified as a key target for action within the National Eating Disorders Strategy (2023). This report overviews what is currently being taught within tertiary curricula across 6 key health professional groups and outlines recommendations to improve this.
• NEDC: Eating disorder core skills for GPs – This free eLearning program contains comprehensive foundational eating disorder training developed specifically for GPs. The training provides GPs with the key information needed to provide best practice care for patients with eating disorders.
• Looking after your own mental health – Advice for healthcare professionals on managing burnout, stress, anxiety and other mental health issues.
• Butterfly services and support for healthcare professionals – find out how we can help healthcare professionals support their clients presenting with eating disorders.