Between Knowledge and Stereotype: Social and Cultural Mechanisms of the Perception of Eating Disorders among Adolescents and Young Adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24917/ycee.12150Keywords:
Eating Disorders, Stigmatization, Stereotypes, Self-stereotypes, Mental Health Literacy, Adolescents, Young AdultsAbstract
The aim of this paper was to analyze the social and cultural mechanisms underlying the perception of eating disorders
among adolescents and young adults. The study, which is based on a narrative review of the literature that includes
35 publications from 2000 to 2025, addresses stigmatization and self-stigmatization processes, gender, body weight,
and ethnic background stereotypes, and the degree of knowledge about eating disorders (mental health literacy,
or MHL). The results show that there is still a lack of knowledge on eating disorder issues, especially when it comes to less prevalent disorders, male populations, and ethnic minority groups. Stereotypes and stigmatization make people less likely to ask for assistance, and patients, professionals, and educators all exhibit knowledge gaps. Researchers in this field emphasize the need to expand health education and training addressed to young people and their social environment in order to reduce diagnostic delays and barriers to treatment.
Downloads
References
Ágh, T., Kovács, G., Supina, D., Pawaskar, M., Herman, B.K., Vokó, Z. (2016). A systematic review of the health-related quality of life and economic burdens of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Eating Weight Disorder, 21, 353–364.
Aird, C.S., Reisinger, A.A.B., Webb, N.S., Gleaves, H.D. (2025). Comparing social stigma of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder: A quantitative experimental study. Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 15.
Arcelus, J., Mitchell, A.J., Wales, J., Nielsen, S. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. A meta-
-analysis of 36 studies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68, 724–731.
Banas, D.A., Redfern, R., Wanjiku, S., Lazebnik, R., Rome, E.S. (2013). Eating disorder training and attitudes among primary care residents. Clinical Pediatrics, 4, 355–361.
Beljouw, I., Verhaak, P., Prins, M., Cuijpers, P., Penninx, B., Bensing, J. (2010). Reasons and determinants for not receiving treatment for common mental disorders. Psychiatric Services, 61(3), 250–257.
Bullivant, B., Rhydderch, S., Griffiths, S., Mitchison, D., Mond, J.M. (2020). Eating disorders “mental health literacy”: A scoping review. Journal Mental Health, 9(3), 336–349.
Brelet, L., Flaudias, V., Désert, M., Guillaume, S., Llorca, P-M., Boirie, Y. (2021). Stigmatization toward People with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder: A Scoping Review. Nutrients, 13(8), 28–34.
Campanino, C., Falone, A., Rossi, E., Angeletti, L., Cassioli, E., Gemignani, S., Brogioni, G., Castellini, G., Bonaccorsi, G., Mannucci, E., Ricca, V., Rotella, V. (2023). Health literacy in female patients affected by anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: A cross-sectional study with pair-matched controls. Eating Weight Disorder – Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 28, 59.
Carpintero-Bla, G.E., Vélez-Vélez, E., Martínez-Miguel, E., Tovar-Reinoso, A., Del Pozo-Herce, P., González-Navajas, C., Gómez-Moreno, C. (2024). Understanding Family Experiences: A Study on Mental Health Literacy in Adolescent Eating Disorder Diagnoses. Nursing Reports, 14, 4145–4161.
Chesney, E., Goodwin, G.M., Fazel, S. (2014). Risks of all-cause and suicide mortality in mental disorders: A meta-review. World Psychiatry, 13, 153–160.
Coopey, E., Johnson, G. (2022). “The male elephant in the room”: A qualitative evidence synthesis exploring male experiences of eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 131.
Corrigan, P.W., Druss, B.G., Perlick, D.A. (2012). The impact of mental illness stigma on seeking and participating in mental health care. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 15(2), 37–70.
Crisp, A.H. (2005). Stigmatization of and discrimination against people with eating disorders including a report of two nationwide surveys. European Eating Disorders Review, 13(3), 147–152.
Devoe, D.J., Han, A., Anderson, A., Katzman, D.K., Patten, S.B., Soumbasis, A. (2023). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorders: A systematic review. International Journal Eating Disorder, 56, 5–25.
Feldhege, J.M., Gulec, H., Moessner, M., Stieler, Ch., van Stipelen, J., Bauer, S. (2022). Stigmatization and attitudes toward eating disorders: a comparison between native German adolescents, Turkish immigrant adolescents in Germany, and native Turkish adolescent. Journal of Mental Health, 31(1), 99–108.
Ferrari, M. (2015). Understanding the feasibility of integrating the eating disorders and obesity fields: The beyond obesity and disordered eating in youth. Eating Weight Disorder, 20(2), 257–269.
Galmiche, M., Déchelotte, P., Lambert, G., Tavollaci, P.M. (2019) Prevalence of eating disorders over the 2000–2018 period: A systematic literature review. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 109(5), 402–413.
Golden, N.H., Katzman, D.K., Sawyer, S.M., Ornstein, R.M., Rome, E.S., Garber, A.K., Kohn, M.R. (2015). Position paper of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine: Medical management of restrictive eating disorders in adolescents and young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56(1), 121–125.
Gordon, K.H., Perez, M., Joiner, T.E. (2002). The impact of racial stereotypes on eating disorder recognition. International Journal of Eating Disorderer, 32, 219–224.
Górski, M., Całyniuk, B., Garbicz, J., Szynal, K., Górska, K., Polaniak, R. (2023). Wiedza studentów wybranych kierunków studiów na temat specyficznych zaburzeń odżywiania. Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis, 77, 67–74.
Godala, M., Karasińska, E., Trafalska, E., Kolmaga, A., Szatko, F. (2012). Wiedza studentów Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi na temat zaburzeń odżywiania. Problemy Higieny i Epidemiologii, 93(1), 80–85.
Grennan, L., Nicula, M., Pellegrini, D., Giuliani, K., Crews, E., Webb, Ch., Gouveia, M.-R., Loewen, T., Couturier, J. (2022). “I’m not alone”: A qualitative report of experiences among parents of children with eating disorders attending virtual parent‑led peer support groups. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10.
Griffiths, S., Mond, J.M., Zhicheng, Li., Gunatilake, S., Murray, B., Sheffield, T., Touyz, S. (2015). Self-stigma of seeking treatment and being male predict an increased likelihood of having an undiagnosed eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorder, 48(6).
Griffiths, S., Yager, Z. (2019). Gender, embodiment, and eating disorders. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(4).
Griffiths, S., Murray, S.B. (2020). Eating Disorders in Men: A Review. Current Psychiatry Report, 22(4).
Harris, E.C., Barraclough, B. (1998). Excess mortality of mental disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry, 173, 11–53.
Halbeisen, G., Brandt, G., Paslakis, G. (2022). A plea for diversity in eating disorders research. Frontiers In Psychiatry, 13.
Halbeisen, G., Laskowski, N., Brandt, G., Waschescio, U., Paslakis, G. (2024). Eating disorders in men: An underestimated problem, an unseen need. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 121(3).
Henderson, C., Robinson, E., Evans-Lacko, S., Thornicroft, G. (2017). Relationships between anti-stigma programme awareness, disclosure comfort and intended help-seeking regarding a mental health problem. British Journal of Psychiatry, 211(5), 316–322.
Hunt, K., Räisänen, U. (2014). The role of gendered constructions of eating disorders in delayed help-seeking in men: A qualitative interview study. BMJ Open, 4(4).
Huryk, M.K., Drury, R.C., Loeb, L.K. (2021). Diseases of affluence? A systematic review of the literature on socioeconomic diversity in eating disorders. Eating Behaviors, 43.
Hollett, K.B., Pennell, J.M., Carter, J.C. (2023). A vignette study of mental health literacy for binge‑eating disorder in a self‑selected community sample. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(69).
Jorm, A.F., Korten, A.E., Jacomb, P.A., Christensen, H., Rodgers, B., Pollitt, P. (1997). “Mental health literacy”: A survey of the public’s ability to recognise mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment. Med J Aust, 66(4), 182–186.
Jorm, A.F. (2000). Mental health literacy: A review of literature. Psychological Medicine, 30(3), 467–475.
Jorm, A.F. (2012). Mental health literacy: Empowering the community to take action for better mental health. Am Psychol, 67(3), 231–243.
Kaczor-Pyter, B., Januszewicz, P. (2018). Wiedza dotycząca zaburzeń odżywiania w opinii studentów pielęgniarstwa. Medycyna Rodzinna, 3, 199–207.
Korpak, P., Korpak, A., Berski, W. (2019). Przekonania i stereotypy dotyczące anoreksji wśród studentów Akademii Ignatianum w Krakowie. Żywienie Człowieka i Metabolizm, 1(46), 75–77.
König, L. i in. (2024). Eating disorders and health literacy in Germany: Results from two representative samples of adolescents and adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 15.
Keski-Rahkonen, A., Mustelin, L. (2016). Epidemiology of eating disorders in Europe: Prevalence, incidence, comorbidity, course, consequences, and risk factors. Current Opinion Psychiatry, 29, 340–345.
Koreshe, E. i in. (2023). Prevention and early intervention in eating disorders: Findings from a rapid review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11, 38.
Lehe, M.S., Halbeisen, G., Steins‑Loeber, S., Paslakis, G. (2024). Invisible walls? Stigma-related perceptions are associated with reduced help-seeking intentions for disordered eating in men. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12, 1–14.
Lopez-Gil, J.F., Garcıa-Hermoso, A., Smith, L., Firth, J., Trott, M., Mesas, A.M. (2023). Global proportion of disordered eating in children and adolescents A systematic review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr, 177, 363–372.
Maloney, R., Lunney, L., Lennox, O.-M., Vaughan, E., Kelly, C. (2024), Stigma Experience of Men with Eating Disorders: A Scoping Review. Journal of Social Care, 4(4), 1–31.
Mojtabai, R., Olfson, M., Sampson, N.A., Druss, B., Wang, P.S. (2011). Barriers to mental health treatment: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Psychological Medicine, 41(8), 151–161.
Mond, J., Mitchison, D., Hay, P. (2014). Eating disordered behavior in men: Prevalence, impairment in quality of life, and implications for prevention and health promotion. In: L. Cohn, R. Lemberg (Eds), Current Findings on Males with Eating Disorders (pp. 195–215). Taylor & Francis.
McLean, C.P., Anderson, E.R. (2011). A moderated mediation model of the relationship between gender and eating disorders. Eating Disorders, 19(2), 139–155.
McNaught, E., Treasure, J., Griffiths, J. (2023). Eating Disorders: The Basics. Imprint Routledge.
Murray, S.B., Griffiths, S., Mond, J.M. (2016). Evolving eating disorder psychopathology: conceptualizing muscularity-oriented disordered eating. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 208(5), 414–415.
Mitchison, D., Mond, J., Bussey, K., Griffiths, S., Trompeter, N., Lonergan, A., Pike, K.M., Murray, S.B., Hay, P. (2019). DSM-5 full syndrome, other specified, and unspecified eating disorders in Australian adolescents: Prevalence and clinical significance. Psychological Medicine, 50(6), 981–990.
Nakano, D., Muniz, Jr., J. (2018). Writing the literature review for an empirical paper. Production, 28, 1–9, 1–6.
Nicula, M., Pellegrini, D., Grennan, L., Bhatnagar, N., McVey, G., Couturier, J., (2022). Help‑seeking attitudes and behaviours among youth with eating disorders: A scoping review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10(1), 1–10.
O’Brien, K.S., Hunter, J.A. (2007). The influences of weight stigma on the self-perception and health of individuals living with obesity: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 7(1), 1–11.
Parker, L.L., Harriger, J.A. (2020). Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: A review of the literature. Journal of Eating Disorders, 8(1), 1–20.
Pearl, L.R., Austin, S.B., Jebeile, H., D’Adamo, L., Wilfley, D. (2023). Opportunities to advance research, intervention, and policy on stigma, eating disorders, and body image. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(132), 1–3.
Pilecki, M.W., Kowal, M., Woronkowicz, A., Kryst, Ł., Sobiecki, J. (2014). The socioeconomic status and family context of eating attitudes and dietary behaviours of children in Polish primary schools. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1, 5–13.
Piran, N. (2016). Teachers: On “being” (rather than “doing”) prevention. Eating Disorders, 24(1), 54–62.
Puhl, R.M., Heuer, C.A. (2009). The stigma of obesity: A review and a solutions. Obesity, 17(5), 941–964.
Solmi, M., Monaco, F., Højlund, M., Monteleone, A.M., Trott, M., Firth, J. (2024). Outcomes in people with eating disorders: A transdiagnostic and disorder-specific systematic review, meta-analysis and multivariable meta-regression analysis. World Psychiatry, 23, 124–138.
Sonneville, K.R., Lipson, S.K. (2018). Disparities in eating disorder diagnosis and treatment according to weight status, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and sex among college students. International Journal of Eating Disorder, 51(6), 518–526.
Sala, M., Reyes-Rodríguez, M.L., Bulik, C.M., Bardone-Cone, A. (2013). Race, Ethnicity, and Eating Disorder Recognition by Peers. Eating Disorder, 21(5), 423–436.
Sala, M., Coll, S., Flamer, R. (2024). Gender stereotypes in eating disorder recognition. Eating and Weight Disorders – Studies on Anorexia. Bulimia and Obesity, 29, 423–436.
Strobel, C.B.S. (2022). The Shadow that Hovered Over: Gender Salience in Eating Disorder Recovery. Gender Issues, 39, 368–386.
Wall, P.L., Fassnacht, D.B., Fabry, E., O’Shea, A.E., Houliham, C., Mulgrew, K., Ali, K. (2024). Understanding stigma in the context of help-seeking for eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12, 1–13.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Youth in Central and Eastern Europe
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
