How do you explain to those you love that eating disorders are not about vanity?

Eating disorders are not about vanity, they aren't beautiful, you are much more than a weight scale.

Many people believe that sufferers are vain, beauty-obsessed brats that could easily recover if they’d simply stop looking in the mirror and get over their need to look good. That is not true at all. I suffer from EDNOS. There are many days that I barely even glance at the mirror or take a look at my reflection. I'm not arrogant and self obsessed. To many sufferers, ED is about self control and directing their attention to something that they control. was so rare among my peers for someone to be satisfied with their looks and to truly love their body but I loved mine. It was doing the best it could to support me. Eating disorder is not about being self-entitled. Even though many people aim for a better image of themselves, it's not selfish.