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The Butterfly Foundation

The Butterfly Foundation was established in August 2002 in response to a critical gap in the service system for eating disorders in Australia, in order to save and improve the quality of the lives of sufferers. The foundation exists to provide direct relief to Australian sufferers and their carers by providing financial assistance for treatment and support, and to promote the prevention of disease by supporting awareness, education, research and early intervention programs.

Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other non-specific conditions are serious life threatening illnesses. More young people have eating disorders than juvenile diabetes, it is the third most common disease in the age group 15-24, and 20% of those diagnosed die (the majority of deaths being due to suicide).

Eating disorders are most commonly experienced by adolescent females and young women, but can also occur in males, people of all ages and across all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. They are complex disorders involving both physical and mental health. They are not a lifestyle choice nor are they strictly about food and weight. They are about low self-esteem, lack of self-worth and identity.