Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorders 

Disordered eating and eating disorders may share overlapping features, but they aren’t quite the same.

While disordered eating shares a pattern of either restricting, exercising too much, or having strict rules around food to maintain a certain weight, these behaviors don’t fall under the umbrella of eating disorders. 

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that sometimes don’t even have anything to do with achieving an ideal body weight (although sometimes they do) but act as defense mechanisms and a series of compulsions that help the individual self-soothe during difficult times. 

Read on as our experts at VP MindCare weigh in on the differences and similarities between disordered eating and eating disorders.

Understanding disordered eating

People who experience disordered eating don’t typically meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder, even though they might have similar symptoms. The key difference lies in the severity, the duration of the episodes, and their overall impact.

For example, someone who struggles with disordered eating may engage in the following behaviors:

• Eating for reasons other than hunger and nutrition
• Eating when they feel sad, angry, or bored
• Engaging in binge eating followed by caloric restriction on an irregular basis
• Engaging in purging on an irregular basis
• Avoidance of certain groups of foods

While disordered eating can evolve into an eating disorder, the episodes and the severity of the symptoms are less intense. However, disordered eating should be addressed by a mental health provider before it evolves into something more serious.

Understanding eating disorders

Eating disorders come in many forms, from the inability to eat enough calories to sustain healthy bodily functions to overeating, followed by purging, excessive exercise, or severe restriction. Sufferers of eating disorders are significantly impacted by food, exercise, and body image, often leading to severe health complications.

For example, if you have an eating disorder, you may notice:

• Constant obsession with food, calories, and exercise
• Avoidance of certain activities that may interfere with their diet
• Strict regimens that negatively impact other aspects of their life
• Significant changes in weight
• Major disruptions in daily functioning (social isolation, inability to keep a job, etc.)

Eating disorders go beyond the idea of fitting into a specific pant size. Sometimes they’re a tool to exert control; other times, they’re a way to cope with difficult emotions. 

Getting help for disordered eating and eating disorders

Disordered eating and eating disorders can start as a weight loss method and evolve into a serious condition. For example, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate among all mental health disorders.

If you’re struggling with behaviors around food and eating, or if someone you love is, know there are many ways to manage the problem. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can address the unhelpful thinking patterns causing the behaviors, and in some cases, medications can help with underlying issues like anxiety or depression that contribute to disordered eating or eating disorders.

Need some help with your relationship with food? Contact us to schedule an appointment with our empathetic team in our office located in Anchorage, Alaska.