Content warning: This article discusses eating disorders.

Eating disorders are predatory; they consume the host anywhere at any time. They creep in slowly, entwining their tendrils around your brain and transforming your mind into a wormhole of doubt and obsession. They don’t care about your age or occupation, and they certainly don’t care about you.

Most of us at some point or other will have had an obsession with our weight. 1 in 50 to be exact. When I say obsession, I mean that little voice inside our heads telling us to ‘get that summer body’ or ‘lose that winter weight’. That little voice that is more often than not influenced by society – but that is a whole other ball game.

For those living with an eating disorder, however, this obsession becomes overwhelming and all-consuming. On average, 149 weeks pass before those suffering finally seek help. That is why 1.25 million people in the UK are currently living with an eating disorder.

What are eating disorders?

Everyone has heard the words ‘eating disorder’. Everyone knows someone who knows someone else who had a great aunt suffer from it. But how well do we really know them?

“Eating disorders are mental illnesses that cause serious disturbances in a person’s everyday diet” and over time, if they are not treated, can result in severe bodily changes, according to Dr. Ananya Cashin-Garbutt.

Eating disorders are more than a diet plan gone wrong; they are mental illnesses that need professional advice and guidance just to live with, let alone overcome.

“Whilst the UK remains in its national third lockdown of the year and prepares for its four-staged plan to release restrictions, does our government actually have a plan to help ED sufferers?”

Eating Disorders Awareness Week was thus established as a global event to provide awareness for those affected by such disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, EDNOS, and binge eating disorders. From 1-7 March throughout the UK, increased support is offered to those suffering and awareness resources are magnified and circulated.

This Eating Disorders Awareness Week, whilst the UK remains in its national third lockdown of the year and prepares for the releasing of restrictions, does our government have a plan to help ED sufferers?

What is the current problem?

On Monday 22 February, Boris Johnson announced his four-stage plan to slowly release lockdown measures by summer. With step four marking an end to all restrictions, this provisional date of 21 June has prompted a lot of controversy about – you guessed it – our weight.

Within minutes of Mr. Johnson’s announcement, hundreds flocked to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to advertise the start of their ‘summer body plan’ ready for boozy beach days and weekend getaways. Whilst for many this may seem like a harmless pursuit, for some, this can be detrimental to those who suffer from EDs, those on the road to recovery and those who have recently recovered.

“Whilst having a timeline of sorts to work towards is great, it gives a very definitive period of just how long things will feel ‘out of my control’ and so I know that until that point the temptation to use old habits as a kind of false crutch is going to be BIG…” said Jack Mathew Henderson, an ED sufferer himself.

Chance Raine, a student concerned with his own weight said, “More than ever, people aren’t seeing ordinary people as they walk out on the streets. We see the best versions of people online and because of this, in our heads, that becomes the new normal. This makes us take extreme measures to achieve unrealistic body goals.”

“People with eating disorders are naturally very goal-orientated, so the very idea of having some sort of deadline is probably going to be something for their illness to latch onto,” said journalist Harriet Clifford.

Scrolling through my Twitter feed hours after Mr. Johnson’s announcement, I saw a tidal wave of diet and body posts by eager Brits waiting for the all-clear come June. Whilst posts such as these are rarely created maliciously, we should bear in mind the impact that this will have on those living with an eating disorder should not be misplaced. The fact that this is often not thought about demonstrates the need for greater education and awareness.

Is social media making a stride towards more body sensitive content?

There’s no denying the detrimental impact social media can have on both our mental and physical health. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all have a card to play when it comes to brandishing their platforms with topless celebrities and the hottest new makeup look unaffordable to 90% of the British population. With summer on its way and the government’s plan to relax all restrictions by June, our social media feeds are inundated with diet plan after diet plan and the top ten ways to lose two stone in two months.

Social media giant Instagram, however, has taken the plunge and begun advertising self-help resources for its users living with eating disorders.

As soon as eating-disorder-related content hits the search bar, an influx of self-help material will reveal itself to the user – whether this is followed up on, however, is a completely different story.

“What mediums online should be doing, and what many are already doing, is reminding us that looking like the ‘gorgeous’ person on our screen isn’t the answer to our own happiness,” said Chance Raine.

What does the government need to do?

“For those living with an eating disorder, control is key.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has tested our government in more ways than one and they have fallen down at every hurdle. Whilst such a global catastrophe as this should be bringing the country together, the Conservative Party seem to be doing an excellent job of tearing us apart. We have been divided by class, age, and lifestyle, with many being prioritised over others. Eating disorder sufferers, however, have seemingly fallen off the wagon altogether.

For those living with an eating disorder, control is key; but that was something that was quickly lost with the outbreak of Covid-19 in March 2020. Now, with four months between us and ‘freedom’, chaos has erupted again. Whilst some are gearing up for their summer parties and friends’ holidays, others are anxiety-ridden about their next steps.

Being trapped within the same four walls for much of a year is bound to have a harmful impact upon anyone, both mental and physical – let alone those with underlying conditions. Therefore, extreme care and empathy need to be adopted by the Conservative Party to approach their plan with greater sensitivity for those suffering from EDs.

Marking set dates for the relaxation of measures has not only created a potentially false sense of hope, but also exacerbated fears for those with eating disorders who are not too eager to return to normality any time soon.

“The lack of funds is immeasurable, the government unfazed, the implications implausible.”

Harriet, however, believes there is only one answer: “I think the only, and obvious, answer is funding in mental health services. We need early intervention. There’s no point if people have to wait until they reach crisis before being offered support, which often needs to be intensive by that stage. ”

Mental health has been severely underfunded for years, and this is a concern many are increasingly having as lockdown pressures continue to impact on our own sensitivities. The lack of funds is immeasurable, the government unfazed, the implications implausible.

Concluding thoughts

It is clear that our government needs to take immediate measures to provide pastoral care to those suffering from eating disorders, especially those exacerbated by the pandemic. Social media, however, causes a barrier to intervention. With its glossy apps that entice users to spend hours upon hours scrolling through the same banal screen, many are hooked and open to manipulation.

Social media is designed to be easy – it wants the attention. But with this comes the ease of access to harmful material; a click of a button and you begin to fall down the perilous rabbit hole.

Madeleine Raine

@RaineMadeleine

Featured image courtesy of Eric Ward via Unsplash. Image license is available here. This image has in no way been altered.

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