Fit Nutrition: Proudly supporting the Butterfly Foundation

Fit Nutrition: Proudly supporting the Butterfly Foundation

Here at Fit Nutrition, we are thrilled to announce that we will be supporting the Butterfly Foundation this December, as part of our first-ever charity fundraiser campaign. We will be donating a percentage of all our monthly sales, as well as hosting an in-store party on Saturday 4th, to raise money for this great cause.

What is the Butterfly Foundation?

The Butterfly Foundation is a charity that supports Australians impacted by eating disorders and negative body image issues. Its mission is to prevent eating disorders from occurring, and ensure those who are suffering have access to the information, treatment, and support they need.

Butterfly was founded in 2002 by Claire Middleton, a mother of two daughters who suffered from the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa. After failing to find the information and support she needed, Claire set up the Butterfly Foundation to help other families in similar situations.

Australians and Eating Disorders

Body dissatisfaction is one of the top concerns of young Australians, and a staggering 9% of all Aussies will experience some form of eating disorder in their lifetime. This could be binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, or another associated disorder.

That means that this form of severe mental illness is as common in Australia as asthma. Worse still, of the over 1 million Australians currently living with an eating disorder, only 1 in 10 are receiving appropriate treatment.

Eating disorders can affect people of any age, weight, gender, race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic group. They are more common in younger women and girls, but it is estimated that more than a third of cases affect males.

The physical and psychological repercussions of eating disorders can be serious and long-lasting. They also have one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder. The earlier intervention occurs when someone is suffering, the more likely they are to recover.

What does Butterfly do?

Eating disorders are most prevalent among young people aged 12 – 25 years. For this reason, Butterfly operates education programs in schools across Australia, to help tackle body dissatisfaction in children, and empower students, parents, and teachers to identify and prevent the onset of eating disorders.

They also run a free and confidential National Helpline, staffed by trained counsellors. This is available from 8 am-midnight, 7 days a week, via phone, web-chat and email, and reaches over 20,000 people a year. Since COVID, Butterfly has experienced a 45% increase in calls to their helpline.

Butterfly also runs online support groups, with virtual face-to-face options in NSW and Tasmania. They have an extensive database of health professionals who understand eating disorders, and they provide a plethora of resources to help sufferers and their friends, family, teachers, and communities understand the issues they’re facing.

These are just some of the ways that the Butterfly Foundation supports people affected by body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.

Why have we chosen this cause?

As a fitness and health supplement retailer, we have many customers who participate in weight-class or aesthetic sports, such as bodybuilding. These industries are known to have high rates of muscle dysmorphia and eating disorders, with some studies reporting that over 50% of bodybuilders experience body dissatisfaction.

We are acutely aware of the pressures that our modern society puts on individuals, and how the constant barrage of ‘athletic’ or ‘muscular’ ideals upheld in the media can lead to the development of negative body image concerns.

At Fit Nutrition, our mission is to help our customers become fitter and healthier so that they can feel their best. We are passionate about body positivity, and would never want anyone to feel that there is something wrong with the way they look, or that they aren’t good enough.

Ultimately, we are dedicated to improving our industry and the wellbeing of our community, and we hope that by supporting the incredible Butterfly Foundation, we can help to make a positive change.

What are we doing?

Throughout December, we will be donating a percentage of all sales, both online and in-store, to help Butterfly on its mission to treat and eradicate eating disorders.

On Saturday 4th December, we will also be hosting a party, with 5% of proceeds going to Butterfly. This will be held in-store at 169 Oxford St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022.

By doing this, we not only hope to raise money to support the Butterfly Foundation in its vital work, but also to raise awareness of this important issue among our customers.

How will your donations help?

There are many ways in which Butterfly can use the money we raise to directly help those suffering from eating disorders and body dissatisfaction. For example:

  • $20 could enable the parents of a person with an eating disorder to attend one of Butterfly’s online support groups.
  • $50 could help Butterfly’s National Helpline counsellors develop resources to support individuals and their families.
  • $100 could support more schools with the facilitation of Butterfly’s first digital body image program for boys.
  • $500 could pay for a course of online counselling sessions for someone suffering from an eating disorder.
  • $1,000 could allow Butterfly to train and educate remote communities to deliver Butterfly’s online recovery and carer support programs.

We very much hope you will visit Fit Nutrition throughout December, and join us at our in-store party on Saturday 4th, to help us fundraise for this fantastic cause!

If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 334 673 or e-mail support@butterfly.org.au