Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorders

Your eating habits play a major role in your overall health and well-being. And while health-conscious habits are generally a good thing, when they become obsessive or damaging, you might find yourself dealing with disordered eating or an eating disorder.

The two terms sound similar, but they’re distinct conditions. Understanding the differences can help you seek the support you need, and our team at Point of View Mental Health is here to help. We specialize in mental health care for eating disorders, and we believe that the right support can help you recover and improve your quality of life.

What is disordered eating?

Disordered eating refers to a range of irregular eating behaviors that don’t necessarily meet the criteria for a specific eating disorder diagnosis but still pose risks to a person’s physical and emotional well-being. These behaviors can include chronic dieting, food restriction, emotional eating, or obsession with “healthy” foods (sometimes called orthorexia).

If you have disordered eating habits, you might have a preoccupation with food, body weight, or body image. However, those preoccupations may not follow the rigid patterns typically seen in clinically diagnosed eating disorders.

For example, someone with disordered eating may frequently restrict their food intake and exercise excessively, but without the extreme fear of gaining weight that’s common in people with anorexia nervosa.

What are eating disorders?

These diagnosed mental health conditions are characterized by severe, persistent, and often dangerous disturbances in eating behaviors. They include specific diagnoses like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

People with eating disorders often experience intense fear, anxiety, or guilt around food and body image. For example, anorexia nervosa involves extreme food restriction and an intense fear of weight gain, while bulimia nervosa is characterized by cycles of bingeing and purging.

Understanding the differences between disordered eating and eating disorders

Both disordered eating and eating disorders involve extreme and unhealthy habits around food, but there are a few key differences.

Severity and diagnosis

The behaviors common to disordered eating may not meet the full diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. In contrast, eating disorders are diagnosed mental health conditions with specific criteria outlined by medical guidelines like the DSM-5.

Control and distress

People with eating disorders often have little to no control over their eating behaviors and may feel extreme distress related to food and body image. People with disordered eating typically have more control over their behaviors, but the behaviors can still lead to significant emotional and physical harm over time.

Impact on health

Both disordered eating and eating disorders can have negative effects on your overall health. However, eating disorders are typically more severe and are more likely to lead to life-threatening complications like malnutrition, heart problems, or organ failure if left untreated.

How mental health care can help

Whether you’re experiencing disordered eating or you have an eating disorder, seeking help from a mental health professional can get you the support you need to start improving both your mental and physical well-being.

Therapy provides a safe space to explore your relationship with food, uncover underlying emotional triggers, and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in particular, is one of the most effective treatments for disordered eating and eating disorders. 

CBT can help you challenge negative thought patterns and behaviors related to food and body image so you can replace them with healthier, more balanced perspectives. Nutritional counseling can also be beneficial in your journey to re-establish a healthy relationship with food and your body.

For both disordered eating and eating disorders, the goal of mental health care is not just to treat the symptoms but to foster long-term recovery and improved overall well-being. Learning to manage emotional stress, cultivating a positive self-image, and finding balance in eating behaviors can significantly improve your quality of life.

An unhealthy relationship with food can disrupt your life and put your health at risk, but recovery is possible. We’re here to help you navigate your relationship with food, improve your emotional well-being, and ultimately reclaim your health. Contact Point of View Mental Health at our Scottsdale, Arizona, office by calling 520-999-9114 or booking an appointment online to get started.