The Difference Between Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders
“What is the difference between disordered eating and eating disorders?” This is a question that comes up often, especially for parents with children who might be newly diagnosed with an eating disorder or parents who are concerned about their child’s eating behaviors and attitudes toward their body and exercise. Or for people who aren’t sure they are ‘sick enough’ to get treatment or help for their food, body, and exercise struggles. Today on the blog we are diving into the differences!
The Difference Between Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders
It’s important to note a few things:
Disordered eating and eating disorders can occur individually and/or together on a spectrum.
Disordered eating can lead to a clinically diagnosable eating disorder.
Disordered eating is not a diagnosis listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), but that does make it any less of a problem or struggle for individuals.
The DSM-5 has categorically distinguished certain eating disorders that meet specific clinical criteria, like Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). The DSM-5 also contains another category of feeding disorders that do not fit the full criteria of the disorders listed above: Other Specified Feed or Eating Disorder (OFSFED). While these rigid clinical presentations can be helpful, they do not always fully capture how eating disorders AND disordered eating can present in individuals. This can make those not fitting the criteria feel like their struggles are bad enough to warrant help or treatment.
Eating disorders do not discriminate. Eating disorders can affect people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Disordered Eating versus an Eating Disorder
Disordered eating and eating disorders share many of the same characteristics. You might notice that some of the behaviors and ways of thinking listed below are glorified within our culture, aka, diet culture. Because of that, individuals might minimize their struggles or not even be aware they have a problem. Just because certain behaviors and attitudes are glorified does not make them safe, healthy, or appropriate.
Here are some characteristics of disordered eating:
restricting calories
avoiding certain foods and/or food groups
fasting or only eating at certain times of the day
preoccupation with food and body
feelings of guilt and/or shame around food or not meeting strict rules/rituals
binging
feeling out of control around food
eating food in secret
(rigid) food rules and/or anxiety around eating meals
dieting (fad diets and cleanses included!)
using laxatives, diet pills, fat absorbers
heightened focus on appearance/distorted body image
weight fluctuations
feeling cold often
rigid rules around exercise/compensatory exercise
difficulty maintaining social activities due to food/exercise rules/rituals
medical complications like hair loss, amenorrhea or menstruation irregularities, GI problems, dizziness or fainting, exhaustion, bone loss, and electrolyte imbalances [3,4]
When moving along the spectrum toward an eating disorder, it’s important to look at the severity of behaviors, the impact on an individual's functionality and daily living, and the level of obsession [1, 2].
Severity of Behaviors
Are the behaviors happening multiple times per day? Multiple times per week? Are they happening in secret? Is the person able to stop? What feelings come up if they cannot engage in the behavior? Is the behavior performed at the expense of other things in their life?
Impairment of Daily Functioning
It’s important to consider how engaging in disordered eating is affecting someone's functionality in daily living. Are social gatherings avoided because of the food offered or is one bringing their own food to social gatherings because they have anxiety and fear around eating certain foods? Is work or school being missed in order to engage in behaviors or after behaviors? Are there sleep changes? Mood changes?
Level of Obsession
How much of the day is spent thinking about food, body, or exercise? How much brain space is being occupied by thoughts of the next meal, of how long a workout needs to last, or what needs to be done to lose those last few pounds? What are the patterns around food, body, and exercise? What happens if a food rule is broken or an individual eats more calories than they usually allow themselves? Is exercise used as a compensatory behavior? Does purging always follow binging? When do binges occur?
Eating Disorder Characteristics
The CCN blog has informative posts on Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa/Atypical Anorexia, ARFID, and Orthorexia. Below are some characteristics of eating disorders as a whole, as well as the simplified diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa.
Behavioral/Emotional
preoccupation with food, weight, calories, carbs, and fat grams
food rituals and rules
skipping meals, fasting, or managing portion sizes
concern with body size and shape
mood swings [5]
Physical
weight fluctuations
sleep irregularities
menstrual irregularities
dental problems
dry skin and hair, brittle nails
difficultly concentrating
fainting and/or dizziness
feeling cold frequently [5]
Seeking Help
At Collaborative Counseling and Nutrition, we believe that everyone is deserving of help and treatment wherever they fall on the spectrum. You do not need to be diagnosed with an eating disorder to receive support for your struggles. Our dietitians and therapists specialize in eating disorders and disordered eating. If you need support, we’d love to help.
This post is for education purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for treatment for an eating disorder. If you believe you have an eating disorder or would like to talk to a team member about dietetic or therapeutic services, please fill out the contact form and someone will get back to you within 72 hours.
Resources Used:
[1] Zucker, T. (2018, February 21). Eating Disorders vs. Disordered Eating: What’s the Difference? National Eating Disorders Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/eating-disorders-versus-disordered-eating
[2] The Emily Program. (2022, February 10). Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorders: What’s the Tipping Point? The Emily Program. https://emilyprogram.com/blog/disordered-eating-vs-eating-disorders-whats-the-tipping-point/
[3] Fuller, K., MD. (2022, June 28). Difference Between Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/difference-between-disordered-eating-and-eating-disorders-5184548#toc-disordered-eating-vs-eating-disorder-key-differences
[4] What Is Disordered Eating? (n.d.). https://www.eatright.org/health/health-conditions/eating-disorders/what-is-disordered-eating
[5] National Eating Disorders Association. (2021, July 14). Warning Signs and Symptoms. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms
[6] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5 (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
Collaborative Counseling & Nutrition is an outpatient nutrition and body image counseling center, with locations in Indianapolis and Carmel, that provides compassionate, holistic eating disorder treatment. Through practicing mindfulness, intuition, and Health At Every Size, we are on a mission to help you find a true state of well-being! We take an anti-diet, weight-inclusive approach with all our clients and work to help guide you towards a way of healthy living designed by you, just for you! This post is for education purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for treatment for an eating disorder. If you are looking for a registered dietitian or therapist to assist you on your recovery journey, please reach out today!
