What is Disordered Eating?

Disordered eating involves a mental obsession about food, weight, diet and body image. It affects the sufferer’s self-esteem and robs them of the quality of life that they deserve. Sufferers may become depressed, withdrawn or anxious because of their eating patterns. It affects every area of life.

There is a difference between unhealthy eating habits and disordered eating. A person with disordered eating is using food to cope with life. Sufferers overeat as a means to stuff down feelings or thoughts. They refrain from eating or go on a diet to feel in control. They may also use the eating to avoid or block some painful part of life.

Psychological factors that contribute to eating disorders include: low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, perfectionism, feelings of lack of control, inadequacy, loneliness, emptiness, etc.

Situations that can set us up to develop eating disorders include limited coping skills to deal with feelings, denial of feelings, secrets, sexual abuse, excessive ridicule (real or perceived), unrealistic expectations for achievement, parental enmeshment, family disharmony or enmeshment, a cry for help, perfectionism, peer pressure, etc.

Disordered eating has varied definitions and types. It is eating when you are not physically hungry and/or not stopping when you are full. It may result in excessive body fat. It is not necessarily apparent on the outside. We can be normal weight, but know what we are doing to stay there. We may be bingeing, then starving or exercising excessively. We may use diet pills or other drastic measures. Labels associated with disordered eating are compulsive overeating, binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia (several types). We may go from one disorder to another and another.