How to Talk About Eating Disorders Safely
A Guide for Journalists, Influencers, Content Creators, and Community Partners
The words and images we use matter. Thoughtful communication can reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, and support healing. As you share your story, or that of someone else, we encourage you to keep the following goals and guidelines in mind.
Primary Goals
Focus on behaviors, emotions, and healing — not body size or appearance.
Use person-first language (e.g., "a person with an eating disorder" rather than "an anorexic").
Emphasize that eating disorders affect people of every race, gender, age, body size, ability, and socioeconomic background.
Highlight hope and recovery while acknowledging that healing is not linear.
Encourage seeking specialized care and share reputable resources whenever possible.
For Journalists, Entertainment Professionals, and Content Creators
Before posting or publishing, ask yourself:
Does this content reinforce harmful beauty ideals?
Am I centering someone's appearance rather than their experience?
Could this image, headline, or quote unintentionally encourage comparison?
Does this content acknowledge that eating disorders affect people of all identities and body sizes?
Have I included information about healing, support, or resources?
Remember: Stories should educate, not sensationalize.
NOTE: If you are a member of the media and would like to speak to someone from our team, please contact marketing@theprojectheal.org.
General Guidelines
Don’t Include Numbers
Avoid mentioning calories, weight, BMI, clothing sizes, body measurements, macros, or other numerical details.
Instead, talk about how you/they felt. Eating disorders can severely impact mood, energy levels, relationships, and more.
Why: Eating disorders are predominantly behavior-based illnesses that only sometimes impact weight and other biometric measures. Numerical details can also unintentionally become comparison points for readers/viewers and/or reinforce disordered thoughts and behaviors.
Don't Share Before-and-After Photos
This includes both weight loss and weight restoration/gain images.
Instead, share differences in quality of life before, during, and/or after the eating disorder.
Why: Transformation photos reinforce the misconception that eating disorders are visible or defined by body size. People can experience a serious eating disorder at any body size.
Choose Weight-Inclusive Language
Avoid labels such as "obese" or "overweight" when they are not medically necessary.
Instead, consider:
People in larger bodies.
Individuals in high-weight bodies.
High-weight individuals.
Fat (ONLY if used neutrally and to describe someone who uses that language to describe themself).
Why: Weight-first language can reinforce stigma and discourage people from seeking care. Focus on health, behaviors, and lived experiences not body size.
Quick Language Guide
General
Use:
Person struggling with an eating disorder
People affected by eating disorders
Person with anorexia nervosa, etc.
Fatphobia
Anti-fat bias
Weight stigma
Body acceptance/neutrality/liberation
Fat positive
Don’t Use:
Anorexics/bulimics/binge eaters, etc.
Body positive
Healthy/unhealthy
Bodies
Don’t Use:
Obese or overweight
Standard/normal/average weight/bodies
Skinny or heavy
Flattering/problem areas
Big-boned, curvy, or other coded language
Framing exercise as good, and inactivity as bad/lazy
Weight-conscious
Weight management
Use:
Fat (if they use this language for themselves)
High-weight
Large/large-bodied
Thin/small
Low-weight
Movement/rest
Weight inclusive
Food
Use:
Nutritious, nutrient-dense
Calorie-dense, energy-dense
High in x (protein, etc)
Delicious
Comfort food
Don’t Use:
Healthy/unhealthy
Guilty/innocent
Good/bad for you
Cheat (day/meal)
Junk food
Empty calories