Former ballet dancer Felicity Ramsay calls for ongoing eating disorder support

An ex-ballet dancer went through “hell” battling anorexia. Now she’s calling for treatments to manage eating disorders like addictions.

The Weight of the World High Tea has been arranged by a local trainee doctor Felicity Phillips who has struggled with anorexia. Picture: Alison Wynd

A trainee doctor who survived anorexia is calling for eating disorders to be managed like addictions – with lifelong recovery support.

Felicity Ramsay was a pre-professional dancer training at the National Ballet in Melbourne when she found herself battling a life-threatening eating disorder.

“I wouldn’t wish my journey through hell on anyone,” she said.

Ms Ramsay became too sick to dance and was admitted to hospital where she was made to eat.

She said it was both “truly terrifying” and “a welcome punishment”.

“Denied food, your body and brain will begin to obsess about it,” she said.

“Food is the sun and the moon and the stars.”

But the real battle began, she said, when she left hospital.

The Weight of the World High Tea has been arranged by a local trainee doctor Felicity Phillips who has struggled with anorexia. Picture: Alison Wynd

“You eat your g*ddamn toast and bicker with the voice in your head that keeps telling you you’re fat and weak, ‘Shut up’, you say, ‘I’m busy, leave me alone’,” Ms Ramsay said.

Eventually, she did win – and “chose life” – but in today’s society, she said she was swimming upstream.

“It’s an addiction.

“You may get well, but you never get ‘over it’.”

According to Eating Disorders Victoria, more than 280,000 Victorians have an eating disorder.

A Barwon Health spokesman said, in the Geelong region, clinicians were observing a rise in severe cases of eating disorders, with anorexia nervosa the leading eating disorder in 2024.

Ms Ramsay said, like with an addiction those struggling need ongoing support and help.

“And now I’m in my final year of a doctor of medicine at Deakin University … trying to help girls break the shackles of Westernised culture.”

On Sunday, Ms Ramsay has organised a High Tea ‘Weight of the World’ at Campbell Point House, 199 Matthews Rd, Leopold from 1pm until 4pm in support of family, friends and professionals battling eating disorders.

“The idea was to create an event dedicated to raising awareness of eating disorders and fostering connection,” she said.

“I’ve clawed out and now I want to raise awareness for what it’s really like … an addiction.”

Eating disorder resources and supports can be found through GPs, or online at Eating Disorders Victoria, Butterfly Foundation and Feed Your Instinct.

Originally published as Former ballet dancer Felicity Ramsay calls for ongoing eating disorder support