Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders (Especially in Rural Australia)
Eating disorders. Two words that often make people uncomfortable, confused, or unsure of what to say. And honestly? That’s part of the problem.
At The Wattle Project, we’re here to start more conversations and help communities especially in rural and regional areas better understand what eating disorders really are, who they affect, and why awareness and support are so important.
So, what are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are serious and complex mental illnesses, not a lifestyle choice or a “phase.” They affect how a person thinks about food, body image, and self-worth, and often involve unhealthy behaviours like restriction, bingeing, purging, or over-exercising.
There are different types, including:
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED)
And they don’t just impact teenage girls (though that’s a common myth). Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, body sizes, and backgrounds.
Some eye-opening stats
Here’s what we know about eating disorders in Australia:
Around 1 in 20 Australians is currently living with an eating disorder. That’s over 1 million people.¹
Binge Eating Disorder is actually the most common, affecting nearly half of all people with an eating disorder.¹
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness.²
Yet only about 25% of those affected ever seek help.³
That last point is one of the biggest issues we’re working to change.
What about rural and remote Australia?
Eating disorders in rural communities come with extra layers of challenge.
In smaller towns, health services are limited. There are more often than not no psychologist or dietitian nearby, or the waitlist could be months long. Many families rely heavily on their local GP or small health clinic and while rural healthcare workers are incredibly dedicated, they often don’t have access to specialised training in eating disorders.
A national report in 2022 found that 92% of rural and remote health workers said they needed more education and training to support people with eating disorders.⁴ That’s huge!
We also see a lot of stigma in rural areas. People don’t want to be seen as struggling. There’s shame, fear of judgement, and a culture of “just getting on with it.” But this silence can be deadly.
Why this matters
Eating disorders thrive in silence. They often go unnoticed until someone is in serious distress, often the situation has become life threatening. And in rural communities, where mental health conversations can already be hard to have, that silence can feel deafening.
We believe that rural Australians deserve better.
Better understanding
Better access to care
Better support—early, local, and ongoing.
That’s why The Wattle Project exists. To break down stigma, build up knowledge, and push for real change where it’s needed most.
Because eating disorders are real. They're serious. And they are treatable with the right help, regardless of your postcode.
Sources
¹ Butterfly Foundation, 2022. Eating Disorders in Australia: Prevalence, Impact & Cost.
² National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC), 2023. About Eating Disorders.
³ Deloitte Access Economics, 2015. Social and Economic Cost of Eating Disorders in Australia.
⁴ InsideOut Institute, 2022. National Workforce Survey for Parent and Carer Experiences.
