title: "You don't have anorexia, you just want to look like a celebrity": perceived stigma in individuals with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimal research has been conducted on how individuals with Anorexia nervosa (AN) undergoing treatment perceive public stigma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Explore how affected individuals with AN believe the general public perceives AN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using thematic analysis, 19 participants with AN were interviewed at the beginning of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three interrelated themes were ascertained: (1) AN is not an illness; (2) eating disorder behaviours are volitional and the public endorses a socio-cultural explanation for the disorder; 3) affected individuals delay disclosing their illness and experience shame engaging in intensive treatment for AN as a result of their perception of stigma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with AN viewed the public as trivializing AN by viewing behaviours as within their control and by attributing eating disorder behaviours solely to socio-cultural factors. Participants believed that the public minimizes the challenges associated with treatment. Findings suggest that clinical interventions targeting stigma are required to counteract perceptions held by service users regarding how others view their illness. "Mental health literacy" interventions are needed for health professionals working with high risk groups likely to avoid seeking help due to fears of stigmatization.
authors.affiliation: a Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada .|b Eating Disorders Program, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network , Toronto , Ontario , Canada .|c Cross-appointment with The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada .|e Faculty of Social Work , University of Calgary , Calgary , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimitropoulos
authors.affiliation: b Eating Disorders Program, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network , Toronto , Ontario , Canada .
authors.forename: Victoria E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: d School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada , and.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muskat
authors.affiliation: d School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada , and.
authors.forename: Ashleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.affiliation: d School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada , and.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCallum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anorexia nervosa; intensive treatment; qualitative research; stigma