Youth Forums

Eating Disorders are a major cause of health problems in young Australians, occurring in both males and females and across all socio-economic, cultural and geographic groups.

At the Eating Disorders Foundation we believe that prevention is better than cure. That’s why, each year, we provide students with the opportunity to formulate an alternative perspective about body image, weight, shape and beauty. At our annual Youth Forum we talk to students about the myths associated with the slim body ‘ideal’. Students share their concerns about beauty stereotypes and are exposed to role models who achieve success because of who and what they are, not simply because of what they look like.

We provide information about:

  • healthy approaches to eating, weight management and improving fitness
  • the dangers associated with drastic forms of dieting, physical and emotional effects of eating disorders, and strategies to assist friends who are at risk.

We challenge the stereotypes that:

  • self worth is entirely dependent on physical beauty
  • being thin is the basis of success and of acceptance
  • eating disorders are based on vanity, that they only affect young girls, and that full recovery is impossible.

2007 Youth Forum - The Science of Eating

The Eating Disorders Foundation in conjunction with the Garvan Institute presented the 2007 Youth Forum - The Science of Eating. Speakers included Garvan Institute’s Neuroscience team, Prof Herbert Herzog, Dr Amanda Sainsbury-Salis and Dr Laurence Macic, who are currently researching the biological effects of starvation, and the genetics of anorexia nervosa and obesity.

Other speakers included:

  • Prof Stephen Touyz who introduced the audience to some of the latest psychological research; the link between anxiety disorders and anorexia nervosa
  • Lizzy Tabone who shared her very poignant story of what it is like to struggle on a daily basis while the work around you ’sees’ a healthy body
  • Matt O’Neill whose very energetic presentation was on the importance of enjoying exercise and eating.
  • Zern Liew introduced students to who powerful the media can be in changing society’s perception of what is fashionable and ‘hot’.
  • Ajay Rochester whose honest and humorous account of her own experience of an eating disorder gave the audience an insight into the reality of living with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.

EDF thanks the Garvan Institute for giving us the opportunity to work in conjunction with them to combat the growing problems of eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity in the community. We look forward to presenting more joint seminars with the Garvan Institute in 2008.

Watch this space for the dates of our 2008 Youth Forums.