Abstract

Eating disorders are a major public health concern, as they are associated with harmful health behaviours and high mortality rates. Researches examining eating disorders have either adopted a quantitative approach, thus preventing knowledge on the lived experience of the disorder, or have only explored patients’ perspectives of recovery from the illness. The aim of this qualitative research was to identify how young women conceptualise eating disorders and to investigate how the media discusses and presents eating disorders. This study has utilised in-depth interviews and social media to generate a detailed understanding of how eating disorders are perceived among the general female population, and among those who have either recovered or currently live with an eating disorder. Ten female university students took part in this study and data was also collected from four online blogs on eating disorders. The results indicated that having a personal experience with eating disorders significantly influences the perception one has of the illness. Furthermore, the media’s glamorisation of thinness was seen as a major contributor to eating disorders and blogs were believed to be a source of support and encouragement.