Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders: Understanding the Difference
Understanding these terms can ease confusion and help guide you toward the care you need.
Is Treatment Available In My State?Table of Contents
- What’s the Difference Between Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders?
- What Is Disordered Eating?
- Examples of disordered eating behaviors include:
- What Are Eating Disorders?
- Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
- Who Is at Risk?
- Health Consequences
- What are Treatments for Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders?
- Seeking Help
- References:
- Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference Between Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders?
Disordered eating refers to a range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not meet criteria for an eating disorder. Eating disorders, on the other hand, are mental health disorders with specific criteria recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and require a trained clinician to diagnose and provide treatment.
What Is Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating includes abnormal eating patterns that can harm both your physical and mental health. These patterns may arise from societal pressures, diet culture, or emotional struggles—not just from a desire to lose weight.
Examples of disordered eating behaviors include:
- Emotional eating: using food to cope with stress, sadness, or boredom.
- Compulsive eating: eating repetitively without hunger cues.
- Orthorexia: obsession with eating “clean” or “pure” foods.
- Yo-yo dieting: repeated cycles of extreme dieting and weight regain.
Note: Disordered eating is not a formal diagnosis but is a risk factor for developing eating disorders.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are diagnosable mental health conditions that involve extreme disturbances in eating behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 2013), common types include:
- Anorexia nervosa: Severe food restriction, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image.
- Bulimia nervosa: Cycles of binge eating followed by purging (e.g., vomiting, laxative use).
- Binge eating disorder: Recurrent episodes of uncontrolled eating without compensatory behaviors.
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Extreme picky eating that leads to nutritional deficiencies and weight loss.
- Pica: Eating non-food items such as dirt or paper.
- Rumination disorder: Repeated regurgitation of food.
Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
- Significant weight changes unrelated to medical conditions
- Distorted body image that significantly impacts overall wellbeing
- Extreme food rules or restrictions
- Purging behaviors
- Negative preoccupation with food , calories, or body size
- Secretive eating habits
- Compulsive exercise
- Physical signs: fatigue, hair loss, menstrual irregularities, dental erosion
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Who Is at Risk?
Anyone can develop disordered eating or an eating disorder, but higher risk is seen in:
- Adolescents and young adults
- Females (though males and non-binary individuals are affected too)
- Individuals with anxiety, depression, or OCD
- People with a family history of eating disorders
- Athletes in weight-sensitive sports (e.g., gymnastics, wrestling, diving)
- Those with repeated dieting history
Here are some statistics on eating disorders by gender:
- Anorexia nervosa: More common in females (about 90%), though males account for around 10% of cases.
- Bulimia nervosa: Affects both genders, but about 75%–85% of cases are female.
- Binge eating disorder: Occurs in both males and females, with a slightly higher prevalence in females.
- Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED): More common in females, though males can also be affected.
Health Consequences
Even without a formal diagnosis, disordered eating can cause:
- Bone loss
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Heart complications
- Fatigue and weakness
- Poor concentration and mood disorders
- Obesity (in the case of Binge Eating Disorder)
What are Treatments for Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders?
Mental health treatments for disordered eating and eating disorders focus on helping individuals build a healthier relationship with food, their body, and their emotions.
Treatment options may include:
- Comprehensive evaluation by a licensed mental health professional to create a personalized treatment plan.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to work on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors around food and body image.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to build skills for managing emotions and reducing harmful behaviors.
- Family-based therapy (FBT), particularly for adolescents, to support recovery with family involvement.
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT) to address social and relationship factors that may contribute to disordered eating.
- Nutritional counseling with a registered dietitian to restore balanced eating patterns and address food fears or misconceptions.
In more severe cases or when health is at risk, higher levels of care may be needed, such as:
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) or partial hospitalization programs (PHP) that provide structured support while living at home.
- Inpatient or residential treatment for individuals needing 24-hour medical and emotional support.
- Support groups and peer support to provide connection, encouragement, and shared understanding during recovery.
With compassionate, evidence-based care, recovery is possible — and help is available at any stage of the journey.
Seeking Help
If you or someone you care about struggles with disordered eating or symptoms of an eating disorder, it’s crucial to seek help. Early intervention tends to improve recovery outcomes. Contact a licensed mental health professional specializing in eating disorders.
If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911 or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Cachelin, F. M., & Striegel-Moore, R. H. (2006). Help seeking and barriers to treatment in a community sample of Mexican American and European American women with eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 39(2), 154–161. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20213
National Eating Disorders Association. (2020). Eating disorders statistics. Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders
Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348-358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.03.040
Treasure, J., Claudino, A. M., & Zucker, N. (2010). Eating disorders. The Lancet, 375(9714), 583-593.
Udo, T., & Grilo, C. M. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of DSM-5–defined eating disorders in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Biological Psychiatry, 84(5), 345-354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.03.014
Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders: Understanding the Difference FAQ
Normal eating doesn’t follow strict schedules or rules — it’s different for everyone. In general, normal eating means being able to enjoy food without guilt, shame, or anxiety. It’s about trusting your body to guide your food choices in a way that feels good for you and meets your needs, without harsh self-judgment.
It can. People who engage in disordered eating behaviors are at a higher risk of developing a diagnosed eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder. Early support and intervention can help prevent disordered eating from becoming more serious.
Occasionally missing a meal isn’t usually a cause for concern. However, if someone frequently skips meals or often makes excuses not to eat, it may signal a pattern of disordered eating. Over time, this can lead to physical and emotional health problems.
Yes, disordered eating is relatively common among people with diabetes. It can make managing blood sugar levels harder and significantly increase the risk of complications, making early diagnosis and treatment very important for overall health.
Disordered eating can range from mild to severe. At its most serious, it can lead to malnutrition, weakened physical health, serious medical complications, and even death. If you or someone you know may be struggling, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible.
Both men and women can experience disordered eating and develop eating disorders. However, females are often at higher risk due to societal pressures and beauty standards. For example, surveys estimate that about 75% of American women engage in some form of disordered eating.
ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. ARFID is an eating disorder where a person persistently avoids or restricts certain foods, leading to poor nutrition, weight loss, or emotional distress.
Unlike other eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, ARFID is not driven by concerns about body image or weight. Instead, it may be caused by sensory sensitivities (such as texture or smell), fear of choking or vomiting, or simply a lack of interest in eating. ARFID is officially recognized as a diagnosis in the DSM-5.
