Currently four per cent of the Australian population is experiencing an eating disorder, which translates to close to one million people.
The portrayal of eating disorders has long been acknowledged as a concern for mental health organisations Mindframe and The Butterfly Foundation, which believe presentation of the disease onscreen and in the media can have a damaging or triggering effect. As a result, strict guidelines have been developed to help media organisations present the issue with a 'no harm' approach.
"Because of my own long battle with eating disorders, I'd always wanted to write a film that dealt with the topic from an insider's perspective," said Noxon.
"I was kind of appalled that there wasn't more mainstream entertainment that dealt with such a common problem. But I was aware of the pitfalls of making a "disease" movie, particularly one about a misunderstood disease like anorexia, so it took me a long time to find an approach that felt grounded and allowed for humour."
To the Bone's trailer opens with a confronting scene in which Ellen is making a calorie breakdown of her dinner plate to her concerned looking friend.
"All right ready, 280 for the pork, 350 for the buttered noodles, 150 for the roll and 75 for butter," says Ellen.
"It's like you have calorie Asperger's," responds her friend.
Following is a sequence which shows Ellen's mother remark that soft drink is "not breakfast" and Ellen wincing her way through sit-ups.
There are several close-ups of her protruding bones, overlayed with the repeated phrase 'I've got this under control', and then finally a confronting image of her white and wizened frame collapsing to the ground.
The second half of the trailer emphasises the positive move towards getting better which transpires after Ellen lands at the group home and appears to have found some friends, a love interest and of course meets the life-changing Dr Beckham.
Noxon makes her feature directorial debut with To the Bone but has producing and writing credits on hit shows Mad Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Grey's Anatomy. She revealed her biggest challenge during production was the tight time frame - the film was shot within 23 days in LA and turned around within six weeks after Collins was cast, considerably less time than most feature films take to make.
She praised the film's cast, which includes Alex Sharp, Carrie Preston, Lili Taylor, and Liana Liberato for their ability to connect to the sensitive topic.
"Everyone cared so deeply about the material - they either had experienced an eating disorder themselves or they knew someone who had - kind of like most Americans," said Noxon.
Aware anorexia is a misunderstood disease, Noxon hopes audiences will be able to gain greater understanding of the issue through To the Bone.
"Eating disorders aren't issues of vanity run amok," said Noxon. "They are a mental illness, just like any other - and far more common than we think. And that if we can lift some of the shame around them, there is hope for a great life and full recovery."
To the Bone will be released on Netflix on July 14.
