Nine percent of Americans experience an eating disorder at some point in their life. However, the number of people with disordered eating patterns is much higher. While they may sound similar, disordered eating and eating disorders are clinically different and may require different levels of support.
Do you have an eating disorder? The answer may be a bit more complex than you think. Learn which symptoms may indicate it’s time to connect with a professional.
Eating Disorder vs. Disordered Eating — What’s the Difference?
At first glance, disordered eating and eating disorders can look similar and share many of the same symptoms, like:
- Preoccupation with food and eating
- Distorted attitudes and opinions about their body and appearance
- Participation in diets, fasting and other methods of weight loss
- Excessive use of weight loss medications and laxatives
- Malnutrition, or a lack of key vitamins and nutrients
The difference often comes down to how long these symptoms have been present and how severely they affect physical and psychological functioning. While someone with disordered eating may deal with low self-esteem and participate in diet fads, someone who meets the criteria for an eating disorder may experience these behaviors more often and for longer while experiencing severe psychological distress.
Symptoms of Eating Disorders
When diagnosing an eating disorder, professionals mainly look at whether the disordered eating and related symptoms impact the person’s life. In children, this often manifests as a sharp change in their growth patterns. In adults, warning signs may include persistent illness, changes in vital signs or psychological decline.
Here are some of the signs professionals look for when they suspect someone has an eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia, or anorexia nervosa, is a condition that involves a fear of weight gain, resulting in restrictive eating patterns. Some of the most common anorexia signs are:
- Low body weight
- Excessive or rigid exercise habits
- Intense fear of weight gain
- Ritualized eating behaviors
- Difficulty recognizing hunger cues or changes in the body
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa, or bulimia, is characterized by an ongoing cycle of:
- Bingeing: Overeating past the point of being full
- Purging: Using compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, fasting, restricting or excessive exercise, to try to offset binge eating
Binge Eating Disorder
People with binge eating disorder frequently overeat, sometimes to the point of physical discomfort. It may present as:
- Eating quickly and past the point of being full
- Eating due to boredom, depression or other uncomfortable feelings
- Choosing to eat alone to avoid judgment
- Feeling guilty or disgusted after overeating
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
ARFID may sometimes be mistaken for extreme “picky eating.” Unlike other eating disorders, it is usually more about how the food makes a person feel rather than body image. Someone with ARFID may:
- Have a fear of choking, vomiting or other consequences of eating
- Have sensory issues with large groups of food
- Have strict rules about how they can eat their food (for example, it cannot touch other foods or must be prepared a certain way)
- Rely on the same “safe” foods and feel unable to eat other foods
Find Help for Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
Even if you or your loved one’s eating habits don’t meet the criteria for an eating disorder, getting professional support can help someone work through these patterns and address the concerns before they develop further. At Merrimack Valley Psychological Associates, Dr. David Rainen and his team help clients navigate a range of emerging and established psychological concerns.
Call us at 978-307-7253 or submit a contact form to learn more about our eating disorder services and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
Reviewed By
Dr. David Rainen, PsyD.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with an extensive background treating a variety of different ages, situations, emotional and mental health disorders in individuals and their families. As part of my 10 year professional and training career in psychology, I have developed and refined my skills and approaches through my work in a variety of diverse settings including: hospitals, community outpatient facilities, college counseling centers, secure and unsecure inpatient/residential treatment programs, and therapeutic day schools.