Eating disorders and body image issues are complex mental illnesses that affect a diverse range of people. The Butterfly Foundation estimates that over one million Australians are currently experiencing an eating disorder, and that nine per cent will experience one (or more) in their lifetime. These illnesses can have serious physical consequences for the sufferer.

Every person’s experience of an eating disorder is unique and different. Eating disorders can be difficult to portray sensitively and accurately in media.

Recent guidelines for use of imagery released by the national Mindframe program advise that some ways of communicating about eating disorders can lead to harmful impacts, such as greater body dissatisfaction or reinforced disordered eating behaviours in those at risk.

Images communicating eating disorders and body image issues should convey hope, support and recovery. They should avoid:

■ specific methods used for weight control (such as scales or laxatives);

■ measurement details (such as weight, BMI or kilojoules/ calories);

■ items used to measure weight or size (such as tape measures or scales);

■ focusing on body parts (such as ribs, collarbones, waistlines or thighs); and

■ problematic websites or places where people can access harmful or triggering information (such as eating disorder forums or ‘thinspiration’ sites).

The guidelines specify that care should be taken with images depicting extreme body weights or shapes, as these can encourage harmful behaviours, and they may also reinforce misconceptions of what an eating disorder looks like.

Instead, use images that represent health and wellbeing and strengthen the notion of hope for recovery. It is helpful to include images that show a variety of ages, cultures and ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders and body types.

Image checklist:

■ What is the purpose of the image and the story?

■ Do the images sexualise or objectify the individuals depicted? Consider whether the images you are using represent one gender, people dressed provocatively or posed in a submissive way.

■ Is the image used to illustrate a harm-reduction campaign or clinical resource?

■ Does the image have a prevention focus?

■ Is the problematic detail incidental to the image (for example, scales in a general image of a clinical setting)?

More information

These guidelines can be read in further detail in Image matters: Mindframe guidelines for image use. mindframeimages.org.au