Young people leave it too late to seek help for eating disorders like anorexia bulimia

A new study has found that young people are leaving it ‘too late’ to seek help for eating disorders, citing fear of losing control over their eating or weight, denial, and failure to perceive the severity of the illness as reasons not to get professional advice. The recent online survey of almost 300 Australian young adults aged 18-25 years found a majority had eating, weight or body shape concerns, and even those with anorexia or bulimia reportedly found reasons to delay getting treatment or expert interventions. ‘Not wanting others to worry about their problems was the highest endorsed barrier - it reflects the wish for autonomy and also the fear of being a burden to others in this group of young adults,’ said Kathina Ali, Research Associate in Psychology at Flinders University. Helpful and free evidence-based online resources are available at websites such as Australia’s Butterfly Foundation and the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.