How Heartstopper raises awareness about eating disorders with powerful storyline

Heartstopper’s eating disorder storyline encourages LGBTQ+ people to reach out for help.

A scene from Heartstopper season 3, where lead character Charlie experiences an eating disorder.
Image: Via Instagram- @heartstopper

Content warning: Mentions of eating disorders and spoilers for Heartstopper Season 3.

This week, February 24 to March 2, marks Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2025. To raise awareness on this matter, we dive into Heartstopper Season 3, where the lead character, Charlie, experiences an eating disorder. 

Based on graphic novels by Alice Oseman, the series follows the lives of LGBTQ+ teenagers attending secondary school. In this Heartsopper’s latest season, Charlie experiences anorexia. From the first episode, viewers see him avoid eating with his friends, refusing to swim due to body insecurities, and lying to his family about meal times. His boyfriend Nick tries to find him help, leading Charlie to spend time at a residential clinic, where he begins his path towards recovery.

Alice Oseman, who is also the writer and executive producer of the TV show, wanted to make sure they were covering the topic with the sensitivity and care it deserves. Another goal was to present an authentic narrative that resonated with a wider audience.

To ensure the storyline was handled correctly and felt realistic while avoiding harmful content or potential triggers, Heartsopper’s production team reached out to Beat, UK’s Eating Disorders Association.  

“Charlie goes through some very dark times in season 3, but through the season we also see him come out of that dark place – and with the support of his friends, his loved ones and people like therapists and medical professionals, he is able to find a path towards recovery”, said Oseman to the charity. 

Heartstopper’s eating disorder storyline also highlights how recovery is always possible, underlining the importance of support from loved ones and professionals in overcoming eating disorders.

 

Television shows like Heartstopper are a great way of raising awareness when portrayed sensitively and accurately. For this reason, it’s important to recognise that eating disorders manifest differently in each individual. 

Ella Canham, from Beat, highlights: “It’s important to note that eating disorders can look really different from person to person […] Even if two people are experiencing the same disorder, it can look really different.”

As a result, Heartsopper season 3 provides an important and valuable storyline for raising awareness on eating disorders in queer people, more specifically on how anorexia can affect young GBTQ+ men. This portrayal addresses the significant underrepresentation of boys and men with eating disorders seen on screen, especially if they are queer.

Beat suggests that misconceptions about eating disorders—such as the stereotype that they only affect young, middle-class, heterosexual white girls—contribute to the invisibility of those who don’t fit these categories, including LGBTQ+ individuals, who are disproportionately affected by eating disorders.

“There’s a really big misconception that eating disorders only affect young girls, and that can often prevent people from reaching out for support,” Canham adds. 

In fact, LGBTQ+ youngsters are considered to be at a greater risk of developing an eating disorder than their straight, cisgender peers. Risk factors like discrimination, internalised shame, poor body image and fear of not being accepted all contribute to making them feel more vulnerable to these complex issues. 

Heartstopper‘s portrayal of an eating disorder in a young queer man is groundbreaking TV. By sensitively addressing a complex issue that is often invisibilised and stigmatised, it not only raises awareness but also encourages those struggling with eating disorders to seek help, offering a message of hope and the possibility of recovery.

If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s health, you can contact:
Beat, or on 0808 801 0677
Bodywhys
Belong To

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