Eating Disorders - Kaaren Watts

About the Guest:

Kaaren Watts is a behavioral scientist with a significant background in researching eating disorders. Her personal experience with anorexia nervosa has not only inspired her to explore the depth of this subject matter academically but also professionally. Watts has turned her struggles into academic excellence by authoring a PhD centered around the psychological reactions to body image stimuli in media, focusing on its effects on young women's body satisfaction. She is presently celebrated for her courage in candidly discussing her own eating disorder battle, aiming to promote hope and reduce stigma about mental health.

Key Takeaways:

• Eating disorders can occur at any age, including for women over 40, and are often exacerbated by factors like social media influence and societal pressures.
• Anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders have serious mental, emotional, and physical health consequences, but recovery is possible with appropriate treatment.
• Seeking treatment involves engaging with a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, and early intervention can significantly enhance the recovery process.
• The pervasive nature of diet culture and media portrayal of ideal body images plays a critical role in the development of body dissatisfaction and subsequent eating disorders.
• The Butterfly Foundation offers valuable resources for those affected by eating disorders, including a support hotline and access to professional help.

Notable Quotes:

• "The incidence of eating disorders is on the rise and includes among women in our 40 plus fabulous demographic."
• "I liken it to being in a vice… the eating disorder also constrains you, it binds you."
• "It is absolutely possible to recover from an eating disorder. Life is a God-given gift and it's worth seizing the opportunity to recover."
• "I've grieved enormously this year for missed opportunities… But it's never too late to seek help."
• "Diet culture in Australia is rife in the media, and even amongst ourselves, we have all these unhelpful ways of talking about food."

Resources:

• Butterfly Foundation: Offers crucial support for individuals dealing with eating disorders. They have a helpline available at 1800 34 673, operational from 8 AM to midnight, Australia Eastern Standard Time. More details can be found on their official website.

Click here to contact Janet & Amelia or ask them a question or click here to contact the She Wasn't Born Yesterday team!

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She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Dr Amelia Haines, a sexual and relationship therapist, who have written Australia’s first book on empty nest syndrome called Empty Next.

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