In this episode of Let's Talk, Yvie Jones explores an often-overlooked topic: the experience of body image in people living with disabilities. To help us understand, Yvie is joined by Juliette McAleer, a writer, researcher and disability advocate from regional Queensland. Juliette shares how she navigates the complexities of living with physical and psychosocial disabilities, all while recovering from an eating disorder. Yvie and Juliette discuss how ongoing medical issues, the system of care, a...
Jul 01, 2025•39 min•Season 6Ep. 1
In this episode of Let's Talk , Evie Jones explores the complex realities of body image among young people, with a focus on the LGBTQIA+ community. Featuring insightful conversations with Finn Sterling, a trans youth advocate; Jeanette Chan, a young, queer lived experience researcher; and Francesca Beilharz, a clinical psychologist, the episode delves into societal pressures, media influences, and personal identities that can shape body perceptions. The guests discuss the unique challenges faced...
Jun 10, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 13
In this episode of Let's Talk, Yvie Jones delves into the complex journey of eating disorder recovery through the powerful lenses of lived experience. She is joined by TJ, Keely, Beth, and Grace, who share their personal stories and professional insights as they navigate the challenges and breakthroughs associated with eating disorders. TJ opens up about his journey with anorexia and bulimia, highlighting how cultural and gender factors influenced his experience and recovery. Keely reflects on h...
May 08, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 12
In this episode of Let's Talk , Yvie Jones engages in a heartfelt conversation about body image and self-acceptance as she speaks with broadcaster Myf Warhurst, research psychologist Professor Navjot Bhullar, endocrinologist Dr. Yvonne Chow, and actor and singer Mia Morrissey. Together, they delve into the complexities of body image in women, and why women are disproportionately impacted by body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. This discussion looks at various areas across a woman’s life sp...
Apr 08, 2025•32 min•Season 5Ep. 11
In this episode of Let's Talk, Yvie Jones dives into the hidden costs of body dissatisfaction and appearance-based discrimination in Australia. This discussion centres around the ground breaking "Appearance Ideals" report, commissioned by the Butterfly Foundation, to uncover the societal and economic toll of body image concerns. Joining Yvie are Sarah Squire, Head of Knowledge, Research, and Policy at Butterfly Foundation, Elizabeth Clark, a partner and researcher from KPMG and lived experience ...
Mar 04, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 10
In this powerful episode of Let’s Talk, we shift the conversation around body-image and eating disorders beyond youth and into midlife and later. Many assume that disordered eating is a struggle faced primarily by teenagers and young adults, but the reality is that body image concerns and eating disorders can persist—or even begin—when you’re older. Yvie is joined by Professor Gemma Sharp – a leading expert in eating disorders and body image at the University of Queensland; Kelly Griffin, who sh...
Feb 04, 2025•40 min•Season 5Ep. 9
In this episode of Let’s Talk, Yvie sits down with Jackson Rose, Helpline Supervisor at Butterfly Foundation, to explore the hidden risks of New Year’s resolutions. While the desire to improve or change ourselves isn’t inherently problematic, black-and-white thinking about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ behaviours—particularly around food and exercise—can carry serious psychological and physical risks. Jackson shares insights into how societal pressures and rigid resolutions around weight loss and fitness can...
Jan 01, 2025•13 min•Season 5Ep. 8
In this episode, Yvie explores the challenging issue of body image pressures facing men and, with her guests, examines how toxic standards impact male self-perception. How can men support one another and challenge these harmful expectations to create greater body acceptance and more compassionate spaces for their own bodies and others? Joining Yvie are: Konan Masuda , an 18-year-old with lived experience, candidly discusses the pressures young men face from peers, social media, and societal expe...
Dec 03, 2024•45 min•Season 5Ep. 7
In this episode of ‘Let’s Talk’, Yvie dives into a meaningful conversation about body image and eating disorders, specifically within multicultural communities. Despite the pervasive nature of eating disorders across backgrounds, unique cultural and linguistic barriers can often amplify the challenges for those seeking support and understanding. Yvie is joined by two courageous women who share their experiences navigating cultural expectations and stigma; the discussion highlights barriers to ac...
Nov 05, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this episode of "Let's Talk," our new host, Yvie Jones, speaks with Dr. Preeya Alexander about the vital role of General Practitioners (GPs) in supporting patients with body image issues and eating disorders. Dr Preeya shares her unique insights into how GPs can build trust with their patients, collaborate with specialists, and navigate the challenges of treating eating disorders with sensitivity and care. We learn how social media misinformation fueled Dr Preeya’s passion for addressing body...
Oct 01, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 5
In today's digital age, young people are constantly bombarded with images and messages on social media that can deeply impact their wellbeing, including their body image. Navigating this landscape can be challenging, both for young people and the parents, carers, and educators who support them. How can we guide young people through the ever-evolving digital world? In this episode, three experts share their invaluable insights: Hannah Jarman, Research Fellow in the School of Psychology at Deakin ...
Sep 24, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 4
The myth that eating disorders only affect women means there are still too many men who aren’t getting help. While it’s great to see more women accepting and celebrating their bodies for the way they were born to be, body image issues and eating disorders are mental health issues that do not discriminate. The difference is that they often look different in men, who are more likely to over exercise, abuse muscle building substances and engage in unsustainable diets. In pursuit of a big, tall, mus...
Aug 06, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 3
There can be shame, guilt and fear attached to a struggle with one’s body or eating, not to mention confusion about whether you, or your loved one, may have a diagnosable or treatable problem. These are just some of the reasons why too many people don’t ask for help. It’s a pity, because talking to a professional can be life-changing. That’s why the Australian Government provides funding to the Butterfly National Helpline, a free and discreet information and support service available to anyone, ...
Jul 23, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Carolyn Costin is one of the most well-known names in eating disorder recovery treatment. Her book, Eight Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder, is a pioneering work that was published more than a decade ago and is still regarded as a central text in the field. Some people think of eating disorders in terms of addiction, with programs to actively get drugs, alcohol, and other addictions out of one’s life. The problem is you can’t do that with food: “You have to learn how to deal with it”, say...
Jul 09, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Going through fertility treatment can be a nerve-wracking and sometimes demoralising experience. When it’s coupled with a past or current eating disorder, the whole process can be even more complicated. Why? “Fertility difficulties and going through fertility treatment can increase the risk of an eating disorder, but also, eating disorders can impact fertility,” says National Eating Disorder Collaboration National Manager, Dr. Sarah Trobe. The NEDC has a new program to help educate health profes...
Jun 18, 2024•26 min•Season 4Ep. 14
A staggering ninety-five percent of young Australians aged between 12 and 18 are experiencing some level of body image concern, and more than half are unhappy with how their body looks. That’s according to Butterfly’s second Body Kind Youth Survey. With body dissatisfaction playing a significant role in the development of eating disorders, it’s not surprising that this data makes sense in relation to Butterfly’s latest Paying the Price Report, which shows 27% of individuals with an eating disord...
Jun 04, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Improvements in quality of life and reduced healthcare costs are just some of the benefits uncovered in a Monash University study of Australia’s only residential treatment program for people struggling with eating disorders. Wandi Nerida, based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, provides a unique model of holistic, person-centred, inpatient care. As the rate of eating disorders continues to rise, so does the need for improved treatment approaches. “We're trying to step away from that more clinical ...
Apr 30, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Please note: This episode was briefly published prematurely on the 4th of April. If you listened to it then we apologise for the repeat. If you’ve ever wondered what the public in Australia knows and thinks about eating disorders and body image issues, this episode will put all your questions to rest. We unpack the latest findings from Butterfly's 2024 Community Insights Report with our Head of Knowledge, Research and Policy who shares her perspective on some enlightening results. The report foc...
Apr 08, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 10
We often talk about the psycho-emotional costs of eating disorders for those living with them; but up to this point, we haven’t learned much about the costs to society. Now we know. Since 2012, there’s been a shocking 36 per cent increase in the economic burden of eating disorders to the people of Australia. In the meantime, 1.1 million people in this country are currently living with an eating disorder – that's an increase of 21% in only ten years. These and many other disturbing metrics are in...
Mar 05, 2024•28 min•Season 4Ep. 9
We should let you know that this episode discusses sexual abuse and comes with a trigger warning. It's about trauma, which is an individual’s response to an event or series of events that have deeply disturbed their sense of safety, security, or well-being. While research shows a clear intersection between trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders, too few health professionals include trauma therapy in their practice. Why? They’re concerned that by opening the “trauma ...
Feb 06, 2024•26 min•Season 4Ep. 8
This month we’re talking to a distinguished social epidemiologist and behavioural scientist at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. Her name is Professor Bryn Austin, and her research focuses on public health approaches to eating disorders. Our conversation begins with an overview of the web that connects consumer culture, corporate exploitation, and the pervasive influence of diet culture on body image. “We’ve known for decades how harmful the consumer marketplace can be with diet culture,...
Jan 02, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 7
We’re talking about the higher-weight paradox, particularly when well-meaning health professionals can trigger an eating disorder or make one worse. Not everything health issue is solved by losing weight, yet that is what people in larger bodies too often hear. Worse, numerous people living with eating disorders remain undiagnosed and untreated because the stereotype of an eating disorder doesn’t fit their reality. Melissa says she had an eating disorder from age 12 but wasn’t diagnosed until ag...
Dec 05, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 6
At the recent Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders conference on the Gold Coast, we spoke to experts about new and groundbreaking insights into eating disorders. This episode is the second in a series of two. Dr Simon Wilksch unpacks his work around the significant financial and emotional costs that families face when caring for children with eating disorders and, to improve outcomes, why he recommends that parents and caregivers receive support too. Monash’s Courney McLean tal...
Oct 31, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 5
The key to understanding any mental illness is to listen to those who have been through it. Not only can the voices of those with lived experience of an eating disorder help those who are currently impacted, but they also, importantly, serve to educate the health professionals who will provide care. The evidence is clear: Services that are co-designed with those who know their own situation will always have the best chance of success. That’s why the voice of lived experience is being embedded in...
Oct 03, 2023•24 min•Season 4Ep. 5
We snuck into the annual Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) conference to illuminate the future of eating disorder diagnosis and care. We recorded on-site at the conference, where we asked various speakers to give us a taste of their research for the sake of all those who’d be interested but couldn’t be there. Segment 1: Reviewing current treatment approaches Dr. Anthea Fursland, a distinguished clinical psychologist for the past 40 years, shares a candid perspective...
Sep 05, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 3
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-V–also known as the psychiatrist’s bible–there are only four official diagnoses for eating disorders. Though experts expect that number to double in the next edition, the reasons someone might develop or maintain an eating disorder are as variable as the number of people affected. This is because eating disorders are not just a set of behaviours. They are a way of coping with difficult things. Psychologist and former...
Aug 01, 2023•25 min•Season 4Ep. 2
There’s a medication for almost every illness, and that’s true for mental illnesses, including eating disorders. But how do they work, and how do they help? We’re launching our fourth season of Butterfly: Let’s Talk with an investigation into medications used to treat people with eating disorders, including some brand-new developments that could offer hope. “Many people with an eating disorder will be prescribed some kind of psychiatric medication,” says psychiatrist Professor Richard Newton, wh...
Jul 04, 2023•36 min•Season 4Ep. 1
The results from the new Butterfly Body Kind Youth Survey are in, and they’re concerning. More than 1600 young people aged 12-18 took part in the survey, with at least half saying they were dissatisfied with their bodies. About one in three kids say they’re completely dissatisfied with the way that they look. "The problem is there’s a real cost to young people's body dissatisfaction," says Helen Bird, Butterfly's Education Manager. "A significant number limit their involvement in everyday activi...
Jun 06, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 14
In February this year, ABC dedicated their flagship investigative report, Four Corners, to eating disorders. This was, in part, because of a few Members of Parliament. The MPs are Teal Independent Zoe Daniel, Liberal Andrew Wallace and Labor’s Susan Templeman. Based on continuous calls for help from their constituents, the three resolved to act for change. To start, they’re co-chairing a new Parliamentary Friends Group for Eating Disorder Awareness to highlight the critical need for more care an...
May 09, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Many of us remember being teased about our appearance in primary school because it happens - a lot. Perhaps we don’t think about it much now, but chances are the experience has left a mark on who we’ve become. The research is clear: Appearance-based teasing is a key risk factor for a child to develop body dissatisfaction which, in turn, can negatively impact their life outcomes, including their mental health, career, and relationships. Body dissatisfaction is also one of the highest risk factors...
Apr 11, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 12
