‘All I could see was: ‘big’, ‘fat’ and ‘ugly’ and I needed to lose weight’

More young South Australians are at risk of developing eating disorders, experts fear, as body image issues take hold around the country.

Adelaide mum of two Rachel Soderstrom says a flippant, innocent comment on the size of her thighs as a teen was the start to a slippery downward spiral into an eating disorder that changed her life.

“I remember looking down at these strong legs that I’d always been so proud and appreciative of for being able to run long distances, play netball and break records in athletics, and in that very moment my perception of them morphed – they were now ‘big’, ‘fat’ and ‘ugly’ and I needed to lose weight,” she says (read more of her story below).

Her warnings come as 42 per cent more young South Australians are concerned with body image compared to two years ago – mirroring a national spike in body dissatisfaction escalated by Covid-19.

As a teen, Rachel Soderstrom's body dissatisfaction developed into an eating disorder, which she was able to recover from aged 23. Now a mum and in her 40s, she has a message she wished she could have delivered to her teenage self: 'Your self worth is not tied to your body image.' Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Australia’s leading eating disorders charity, the Butterfly Foundation, has revealed a surge in demand, assisting 200 per cent more people in the first four months of this year than the whole of 2019.

In South Australia, latest data shows 229 people contacted the Butterfly Foundation in the last half of 2020 compared to 161 in the same six month period in 2019.

More than half of those seeking help were aged under 29 and more than seven in 10 carers who sought support were for dependants aged 10 to 24.

Nationally, inquiries for the Butterfly Foundation’s school services were up by 150 per cent during the first school term of 2021, compared to term 1 in 2019.

“The increased exposure to social media and heightened levels of stress and anxiety resulting from COVID-19 have placed our young people at a significant risk of body dissatisfaction, which we know can develop into an eating disorder later in life,” said Butterfly Foundation CEO Kevin Barrow.

Mr Barrow said body image ranked third – behind stress and mental health – as the greatest concern of Australians aged 15 to 19.

“In fact, 33 per cent have serious concerns about body image, which is backed up by the surge in demand to our services from young Australians and their parents over the last 12 months,” he said.

With the risk of eating disorders linked to body dissatisfaction, experts are now warning parents and carers to be mindful of their own body image standards and stereotypes.

Supplied Editorial Fwd: can u send me headshots of Helen Bird and Kevin Barrow

“What we say to our children and young people and how we behave can stay with them for a very long time,” said Butterfly Foundation education services manager Helen Bird.

“Now is the time to support our kids’ mental health so they don’t develop problems down the track,” said Ms Bird.

For assistance, call the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 or [e-mail]