Research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has highlighted a lack of culturally specific screening tools and early response programmes to identify and treat eating disorders among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
The study found that 28.6 per cent of Aboriginal youth experience eating disorders, compared with 21.7 per cent of non-Aboriginal youth, with binge eating at night the most common issue. Lead researcher Dr Kanita Kunaratnam, an accredited practising dietitian, said eating disorders in Aboriginal communities are linked to deeper social and cultural challenges.
“Binge eating tends to be the most common eating disorder among Indigenous Australian youth, because many have grown up in food insecure households. While their financial circumstances may change, untreated eating disorders often persist into adulthood, particularly when underlying factors like trauma and food insecurity are not addressed,” Dr Kunaratnam said.
She added that high levels of body image concern, intergenerational trauma and the ongoing psychological impact of disadvantage exacerbate the problem. “Eating Disorders in general are not well understood within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. There is often a perception that people living in larger bodies are judged as overeating, without understanding that an eating disorder or other health issues might be underlying,” she said.
Despite evidence of cultural and social factors shaping how eating disorders develop, the research found no screening tools or early interventions designed specifically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This absence, Dr Kunaratnam warned, means many young people may go undiagnosed.
“Importantly, we believe the current prevalence is likely underestimated. Without culturally specific approaches to screening, many young people may be missed entirely in both clinical and community settings,” she said.
The research suggests that clinicians treating Aboriginal youth risk overlooking eating disorders because the symptoms can present differently from those seen in Western or white populations.
Dr Kunaratnam stressed the need for culturally grounded approaches. “These tools have to be built from the ground up. It must include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, their voices and their lived experience, to ensure these programmes are effective and sustainable long term.”
She is now working with Dr Seraina Agramunt, Associate Professors Natalie Strobel and Jocelyn Jones from Kurongkurl Katitjin to pilot a screening tool tailored to the needs and perspectives of First Nations communities.
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