A health expert says New Zealand needs a more "balanced" approach to food education following a rise in people being diagnosed with eating disorders.
The latest Ministry of Health figures show the number of New Zealanders diagnosed with eating disorders is going up, with 2085 people diagnosed this year, an increase on the 1556 diagnosed in 2019.
Ministry of Health’s chief mental health advisor John Zonnevylle said there were 1869 female, 203 male, and 13 others diagnosed with eating disorders in 2022/23.
“The increase sits alongside changes in reported mental well-being of young people that are also seen internationally as a part of a trend over the past decade and is not well understood,” said Zonnevylle.
Experts have said there are strong connections between social media and eating disorders, particularly orthorexia, which is an obsession with eating foods that are considered healthy.
Kellie Lavender, a specialist from the New Zealand Eating Disorders Clinic said it's common for people to start their health journey doing things they believe are "really positive".
“If their behaviour changes in such a significant way, it can become a slippery slope into disordered eating and then an eating disorder,” she said.
Lavender described certain personality traits such as being a perfectionist or tenacious, which can be great in other contexts, yet can make a person more susceptible to developing an eating disorder.
Lavender also said adolescents who are statistically prone to eating disorders in their stage of life are also the ones being more influenced through social media.
“We’re bombarded with what’s healthy, what’s fit, what’s right and what’s wrong,” she said, “it’s very confusing to think ‘what is the right things for me?’” she said.
She said a basic education around food and what eating disorders actually are needed, emphasising lifestyle “balance” as the key to success
“How to we find a balance between keeping fit, our bodies healthy and eating well, but that’s not one specific diet. That means having a balance of food and a balance of exercise that keeps us well, but is also fun,” she said.
Fitness coach Sheena Martin shared her story with Breakfast after developing an eating disorder when she was 18 years old, during the "thin-thigh era of magazines".
"A lot of conditioning that I had picked up from society and my history as a dancer growing up... a lot of different influences on me ... created a certain pressure," she said.
"I think, collectively, we are in a shift where people are beginning to appreciate that taking care of our bodies is much more of a holistic picture than it has been, particularly on social media, there is a lot of information.
"It’s important that we are conscious consumers of that content," she said.
Martin said fitness influencers and professionals are now sharing experiences online that may not resonate with the general population or fit into their lives.
“It’s really important to be able to ... be inspired by what they’re doing but understand how fitness and eating well can fit into your life,” she said.
Martin said her body-building regime helped her heal from her eating disorder through expanding her knowledge about food.
“I would love people, women especially that I work with, to be empowered through knowledge of food and to look after their bodies in a nurturing, caring way," she said.
“If what you do to achieve your body goals isn't sustainable, then the results won’t be sustainable."
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