What is Disordered Eating?

Disordered eating refers to a range of distressing thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours related to food, eating, body image, and physical activity. This can include preoccupation with food, body weight or shape, dieting, eliminating certain foods or food groups, mealtime anxiety, and rigid eating attitudes or behaviours (Pereira & Alvarenga, 2007). It is not uncommon for a person to experience periods of disordered eating throughout their lives, especially during key stressful life events such entering the first year of post-secondary education, prepping for exam season, the loss of a loved one, or global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Simone et al., 2021). It is important to remember that individuals with an eating disorder may engage in disordered eating, but not everyone that experiences disordered eating has an eating disorder.

Although eating disorders and disordered eating both involve food and body-related distress, they are distinct. While disordered eating can vary in severity and does not meet the criteria for a clinical eating disorder as outlined in the DSM-5, it can still pose a significant risk to an individual’s health and wellbeing and should be taken seriously. Moreover, disordered eating and dieting are significant risk factors for future development of an eating disorder. Early intervention and support at this stage are crucial for prevention of eating disorders (National Eating Disorders Collaboration [NEDC], 2021).

Recommendation

Gain clarity on the differences between eating disorders and disordered eating as well as the spectrum in which they both exist.