Brisbane woman to educate school kids on eating disorder dangers

Brisbane’s Lexi Crouch says school playgrounds can be a very dark place. She should know – it was there where she was first triggered before she later developed anorexia nervosa.

Brisbane’s Lexi Crouch knows first hand how dangerous the playground can be for eating disorder development.

The 32-year-old nutritionist first started skipping meals in primary school and says educating those who might be vulnerable was a crucial step towards prevention.

Lexi Crouch is a Butterfly Foundation advocate and will be part of the organisation’s new in school education program. Picture: Richard Walker

“The playground can be a very dark place,” Ms Crouch said.

“It was at age seven at school when I was first triggered and went on to develop anorexia nervosa.

“I was bullied about my weight and by Year 5 I was skipping meals.

“Children knew way too much about calories. They watched what you were eating and what you bought from tuckshop.”

Ms Crouch’s condition worsened during her years at private school where the thinspo movement was rampant.

“Children can listen to all that stuff and perhaps not be impacted but for me I was glued to every word and took it all to heart,” she said.

“Not everyone is going to go on to develop an eating disorder, there are those who are genetically predisposed or a traumatic event has triggered the problem.

“But skipping meals can become addictive. When you have done it once there is a feeling of gratification that you want to repeat and it can become addictive.”

Lexi Crouch says her recovery involved looking after her mind and body through yoga and mindfulness. Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Crouch is a Butterfly Foundation advocate and will be part of the organisation’s new in school education program.

“It’s important to get the message into schools — that is where my problems began and the earlier a child is told of the dangers the better,” she said.

Ms Crouch has also opened a new health clinic in Brisbane with special focus on treating eating disorders in a holistic way.

“For me, recovery began when I empowered myself with nutrition education and learned how to have a healthy relationship with food, as well as look after my mind and body through yoga and mindfulness,” she said.