Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is a clinical diagnosis, usually as per the DSM-5. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for “the classification of mental disorders using a common language and standard criteria.” I won't break down all of the different eating disorders here as there is plenty of information out there, a comprehensive one is this one by BEAT.

The criteria can seem narrow, and eating disorder services are under-funded and under-resourced, so sadly sometimes people are turned away from NHS services. This can be harmful to many people as this may exacerbate the eating disorder, may leave them feel unsupported and alone, and there can be a risk of other aspects of mental health deteriorating.

Weight stigma and fatphobia sadly play a part in the diagnosis of eating disorders too. Medical professionals have grown up in the same diet culture and idealization of thinness, so they hold their own unconscious biases and ideas of what an eating disorder "should" look like. You can read more of my views of this on my blog page.

Disordered Eating

In short, "disordered eating" is all the rest that doesn’t fit the eating disorder categories, involving any distress and/or anxiety caused by eating. I often use "disordered eating" as a term to include eating disorders and any eating distress outside of that. The eating disorder criteria is quite narrow, so referring to "disordered eating" for me feels more inclusive to everyone. "Eating distress" also is more inclusive and may fit better for people who may not like the term "disordered".

The following list contains examples of what *may* be included in disordered eating, however *may* is the important word here as everyone is different and it is always within a contact of the person as an individual. Some people may diet occasionally, whereas others may diet and it may escalate. The difference between "normal" eating (if there even is such a thing!), disordered eating and eating disorders, is to do with the severity, how often, how much etc, but this is always to be determined on a case by case basis.
I do not diagnose people, I look beyond the label, though I respect that labels are very important for many people. The most important thing for me is that ANY kind of eating distress is really difficult and can have a really huge effect on people's lives. Everyone deserves help and support.

So, things that *may* be part of disordered eating:
  • Anything that causes distress – guilt, anxiety, fear
  • Being preoccupied with food
  • Rigid rules around food and eating
  • Binge eating (which doesn’t fit the criteria for BED)
  • Purging – including using laxatives & diuretics
  • Focussing on numbers -  eg calorie counting, weighing food
  • Using weight loss supplements, teas, diet pills etc
  • Yo-yo dieting
  • Restricting food groups (non-allergy related)
  • Cleanses/fasting
  • Being fearful of foods, only eating “safe” foods
  • Over-exercising/compensatory exercise, exercising whilst injured or tired
  • Feelings of guilt/shame if unable to exercise
  • Food avoidance due to sensory factors
  • Avoiding eating around other people
  • Regularly weighing yourself

There are likely more ways that disordered eating shows up, it's different for everyone. But however it shows up, it's important to seek help and support, even if you don't think your problem is "bad enough". You still deserve help.


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