Is it Disordered Eating or an Eating Disorder
What's the difference between disordered eating & eating disorders? I get asked this question all the time! And it’s a very good question. In part, it’s confusing since we live in a culture that normalizes disordered eating behaviors and encourages restrictive diets. So let’s break it down.
Eating disorder prevalence doubled globally from 2006 to 2018 [1], with another spike seen during and after the pandemic. Eating disorders are the most deadliest mental illness and the 3rd most chronic condition in adolescents [2]. And they affect everyone – all ages, all races, all genders, all body types/size and all sexual orientations [3]. The thin, white, female stereotype is so outdated! However, people of color with eating disorders are half as likely to be diagnosed or to receive treatment. When an eating disorder diagnosis is missed, early intervention does not happen, treatment is delayed and the eating disorder is free to wreak havoc on overall health. This is why making sure you get the correct diagnosis from your clinician is so important.
Folks normally only think of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) when they think of eating disorders, which includes restrictive eating behaviors with an intense fear of gaining weight. But there are SO many types! The list below has criteria defined by the American Psychiatric Association. While dietitians cannot diagnose under our credentials, we can provide insight into behaviors and assist the care team in assessing if someone meets the criteria for an eating disorder.
The most significant difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating is that “disordered eating” describes a range of irregular eating behaviors but is not a specific diagnosis [4]. It is possible to experience disordered eating that does not fit within the confines of an eating disorder diagnosis. So you could be a person with or without an eating disorder that has disordered eating patterns. The following list are signs and symptoms of disordered eating, they can vary in severity.
Signs & Symptoms of Disordered Eating
Frequent dieting, anxiety associated with specific foods or meal skipping
Chronic weight fluctuations
Rigid rituals and routines surrounding food and exercise
Feelings of guilt and shame associated with eating
Preoccupation with food, weight and body image that negatively impacts quality of life
A feeling of loss of control around food, including compulsive eating habits
Using exercise, food restriction, fasting or purging to "make up for bad foods" consumed
Many people who suffer with disordered eating patterns either minimize or do not fully realize the impact it has on their mental and physical health. This lack of understanding may unnecessarily exacerbate the harm of disordered eating. And, most significantly, disordered eating is a risk factor for developing an eating disorder. [5]
If you are not sure what you or your child are experiencing, book an assessment with one of our eating disorder trained dietitians. Our approach is gentle, compassionate and client centered.
Citations:
Glamiche et al. 2019 Prevalence of eating disorders over the 2000–2018 period: a systematic literature review. Am J of Clinical Nutrition. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/109/5/1402/5480601
Fisher et al. Eating disorders in adolescents a background paper. J Adolesc Health. 1995;16(6):420-437
Eating Disorder Statistics. “National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.” National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. www.anad.org
https://www.eatright.org/health/health-conditions/eating-disorders/what-is-disordered-eating
Hilbert et al. 2016. Risk factors across the eating disorders. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4785871/