Unpacking Eating Disorder Myths with Therapists Harriet and Phil

Happy New Year!! So to start off 2023 we are having both of our much loved guests Harriet and Phil back on the podcast to unpack some eating disorder myths.

The amazing Dr. Phillip Aouad currently works at Shape Your Mind, an eating disorder treatment clinic based in central Sydney’s CBD. Phil is a registered psychologist and researcher who received his PhD in 2020 from the University of Sydney. Phil is also currently serving at the Early Career Researchers Special Interest Group as the Co- chair for the Global Academy of Eating Disorders.

The lovely Harriet Illes currently works at BodyMatters Australasia as a provisional psychologist and family therapist as well as at Ramsey North Side Clinic. Harriet has completed a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences at the University of Adelaide. Also having completed her Honours year in psychology at the University of Sydney.

On this weeks episode Harriet and Phil expose the nature of eating disorders and the various complexities influencing their onset, maintenance or recovery. This is where Harriet and Phil, are able to beautifully unpack some of these mainstream myths and assumptions around eating disorders. To provide much more of an understanding around some of the mainstream cultural stereotypes that seem to miss the mark on the reality of this illness. Enjoy!

Eating Disorder Myths

1. Eating disorders are a choice and based on vanity?

2. Parents cause their child’s eating disorder?

3. Eating disorders are only experienced by teenage girls?

4. You can only have an eating disorder if you are under a safe BMI weight?

5. If it doesn’t appear that someone has eating disorder behaviours when with others then they don’t have one?

6. You can only struggle with one eating disorder not multiple?

7. It’s easy to get over an eating disorder and people usually do in adulthood?

8. You can’t fully recover from an eating disorder you will always have one?

Links to Phil:

Shape Your Mind: https://shapeyourmind.com.au/

Links from the episode:

BodyMatters Australasia Website: https://bodymatters.com.au/

BodyMatters Instagram: bodymattersau

Butterfly Foundation Helpline: Call their National Helpline on 1800 33 4673. You can also chat online or email