What Is Disordered Eating? And Why It Happens

A good relationship with food is foundational to sticking with healthy eating habits. And those healthy eating habits are critical to living a healthy lifestyle.

So, when you’re engaging in disordered eating, it can take a toll on your entire well-being.

But what exactly does disordered eating look like? And what can be done about it? We asked psychologist and weight management specialist Leslie Heinberg, PhD, for advice.

What is disordered eating?

“Disordered eating” is a term that describes problematic eating behaviors that can be harmful to your health. But while potentially damaging, they don’t meet the full criteria for an eating disorder.

“Eating disorders have very specific criteria for diagnosis,” Dr. Heinberg clarifies. “Much more common are eating patterns that share symptoms with those conditions without meeting the full criteria for a diagnosis. That’s what we call disordered eating.”

Signs of disordered eating

Disordered eating behaviors can vary from person to person. But in general, people engaging in disordered eating may:

• Binge eat
• Severely restrict calories
• Diet frequently
• Avoid certain foods or food groups
• Engage in emotional eating
• Feel out of control when they eat
• Have very strict and rigid eating patterns with significant guilt when failing to meet these “rules”

Some people will tell you that purging is also a sign of disordered eating. That’s where someone will make themselves throw up after eating or will exercise excessively or use laxatives to clear out their system after eating.

Dr. Heinberg emphasizes that purging is not disordered eating. Instead, it’s a behavior associated with a diagnosable eating disorder.

“Purging behavior is never part of a normal and healthy diet,” she emphasizes. “Engaging in purging is an indication that it’s time to seek some help and some guidance.”

What causes disordered eating?

Our relationship with food is shaped by many factors, and the causes of disordered eating are often intricate and interwoven.

“Eating is a more complex behavior than we usually give it credit for,” Dr. Heinberg points out. “A lot of our eating behavior is biologically driven — gut hormones that communicate hunger to our brain. But there’s more to it than that. We eat as part of socializing with people. We eat because it’s pleasurable.”

Some people may be genetically predisposed to problematic eating, and some eating disorders run in families.

What’s more, the messages you hear about food and body image as you’re growing up may be a factor. Those impressions can leave a lasting mark and shape your eating habits throughout your life.

And our cultural influences can matter, too. Movies, magazines, social media and other outlets can create unrealistic expectations about how bodies are “supposed to look.” And some people develop disordered eating habits in an effort to try to change their bodies to fit that image.

The risks of disordered eating

Living with disordered eating can be detrimental to your health and happiness. Among the troubles:

• Nutritional deficiencies. Restricting your calorie intake or refusing certain foods or food groups can mean missing out on essentials like vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber or other nutrients your body needs to keep your health on track.
• Physical effects. Disordered eating can affect your weight, sleep, energy levels, skin, hair, digestive system and much more. Depending on your behaviors, it can lead to problems like lightheadedness, nausea, constipation and other troubles.
• Emotional health. Things like binging and feeling out of control around food carry a heavy psychological burden that can affect your day-to-day life. You may worry excessively about your weight or your food intake. And you can feel exhausted, guilty or “stuck.”
• Social isolation. Having an unhealthy relationship with food can mean avoiding food-centric events with your friends and loved ones. You may prefer to skip time with loved ones rather than worry about the temptations or the work of hiding your disordered eating behaviors.
• Progression to an eating disorder. Some people engage in disordered eating without ever fully fitting the criteria for an eating disorder. For others, disordered eating is a stop on the way to a diagnosis.

Recovering from disordered eating

If you’re living with disordered eating, know that there is hope. Help is available. And recovery is possible. It can make all the difference in helping you break free from the rituals, unhealthy thinking and behaviors that can seem to control your life.

“People will often try very, very hard to break their disordered eating patterns,” Dr. Heinberg acknowledges. “But you can’t always do it on your own. The right support can really help.”

Where to start?

Reach out to a healthcare professional, like a primary care provider, mental health provider or registered dietitian. They can help you understand how your relationship with food affects you and help you develop healthier strategies.

And the earlier, the better. Remember that disordered eating can progress into a diagnosable eating disorder, which can be tougher to treat.

“Early intervention is associated with much better outcomes. If there are concerns, don’t wait,” Dr. Heinberg encourages.