Eating disorders are evolving in ways that worry health professionals, with the condition now affecting a far wider range of people than the stereotype of a teenage girl chasing extreme thinness. Speaking to HOT 1027 News, Dr. Lerato Makofane – a consultant psychiatrist at Tara Hospital’s eating disorders unit – says this shift is both significant and troubling.

While adolescent females still make up a large portion of patients, Dr. Makofane says they are now treating children as young as eight, as well as middle-aged women, particularly those going through the perimenopausal period. Men are also seeking help in greater numbers, and there’s been a notable rise in patients of colour.

She believes increased awareness and better access to treatment partly explain the broader range of cases. However, she warns that appearance anxiety, the influence of “fitness culture,” and the unrealistic ideals promoted on social media are playing a powerful role. Algorithms often push content focused on extreme body ideals, rapid weight loss, and “before-and-after” transformations, which can intensify symptoms in vulnerable individuals.

Listen to the HOT 1027 News report by Natshaa Thorp below:

Finding the way forward

While these trends are alarming, Dr. Makofane says there are ways to counteract them. For individuals, she recommends practising “body neutrality” – focusing less on appearance and more on health, strength, and function. She encourages people to follow credible, accredited voices online and to unfollow accounts that promote harmful or unrealistic ideals.

Families can play a crucial role by maintaining open conversations about body image and eating habits, noticing warning signs early, and seeking professional advice without delay. Tara Hospital can assist with referrals to appropriate healthcare providers across South Africa.

Dr. Makofane also believes social media platforms must step up, with tighter regulations on harmful content, greater accountability for AI-generated imagery, and ethical marketing practices that promote health at every size.

“This is a serious and growing public health concern,” she told HOT 1027 News. “But it’s also one we can address through awareness, early intervention, and a cultural shift towards healthier, more realistic ideals.”