It’s Not About The Food

1 in 3 diagnosed eating disorders are male yet only 10% of those diagnosed seek help. When you consider leading research that suggests large numbers of men don’t self-identify as having eating disorders and face systemic barriers in diagnosis, the actual prevalence of the issue could be much higher. And yet, for a condition that causes more fatalities for men than our national road toll, urgency and a tailored approach are severely lacking.

This is a cultural problem. All over the world, from generation to generation, boys and men are told not to seek help and are expected to swallow their shame. Meanwhile social media, targeted advertising and gym culture serve up a toxic cocktail of unrealistic and harmful male body standards. What it’s amounted to is a crisis born of these antiquated notions of masculinity, preventing early intervention and perpetuating bias which limits young men’s ability to access adequate care.

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FOOD aims to drive urgent discourse and awareness around the issue of male eating disorders. In doing so we will reveal its root causes and how it presents differently in men, encourage young men to identify with the issue and seek help, create awareness among their loved ones and those that provide care, and highlight the inadequacies in the community and health sectors when it comes to care of males experiencing an eating disorder. Ultimately, we aim to contribute to a societal shift which sees young men receive the care they so desperately need.

We hope to achieve the following goals:

SHORT-TERM
– Raise awareness and understanding of male eating disorders, their root causes, and how they present
– Help young men feel seen through shared on-screen stories
– Encourage reflection and conversations about body image
– Share knowledge on how to seek help—for oneself or a loved one
– Direct support and donations toward relevant organisations

MEDIUM-TERM
– Motivate care providers and advocates to prioritise male eating disorders
– Upskill GPs, clinicians, frontline workers, and men’s health programs on the diverse presentations of eating disorders in men
– Increase the number of men recognising symptoms and seeking help
– Grow empathy and understanding among families and communities

LONG TERM
– Improve diagnosis rates for male eating disorders
– Develop tailored services for boys and men
– Increase funding for male-specific eating disorder research
– Include all eating disorders for Medicare coverage

As a lived experience survivor, our director and lead participant Jason has built strong partnerships with community organisations. Eating Disorders Victoria and the Butterfly Foundation is closely involved, supporting our duty of care protocols and offering insights from the frontline.

We’ve partnered with Movember as part of their Men in Mind program, to reach 60,000 GP’s nationally, giving them the tools they need to meet men at these crucial help seeking moments. The Resilience Project is supporting our educational outreach, helping us connect with young men in schools. Their experience shows that film offers a powerful entry point for difficult conversations, creating a safe space for reflection and dialogue through others’ stories.

We’re also working with Orygen and The University of Melbourne to ensure access to the latest research and data on causes and treatment approaches, while The Royal Children’s Hospital and On Core Nutrition provide clinical guidance.

This project will encourage audiences to:
– Reflect and talk about your own experience with body image (and that of loved ones).
– Learn more about male eating disorders and connect with resources, including ways to seek help.
– Donate to organisations that provide care to men who identify with an eating disorder and advocate for eating disorder awareness and research.
– Host a screening in your local community, or for your organisation.
– Specifically for leadership in eating disorder organisations – take urgent action to address the issue and make this a strategic goal for your organisation.