Disordered Eating: A Segue to an Eating Disorder?
Written by ‘Ai Pono Hawaii Staff Writer
There’s a widespread epidemic of disordered eating in our current culture. In fact, research shows that 50 percent of the US population demonstrates disordered eating. But what exactly is disordered eating and is it connected to eating disorders?
In this article, we define what disordered eating is, distinguish it from full-fledged eating disorders, take a closer look at the prevalence of disordered eating in our culture, and explore the impact it has on the development of eating disorders.
Disordered Eating: A Cultural Norm
In the last 50+ years, western culture has been engaged in a war against fat. This “War on Fat” has transformed the way our culture views food and interacts with it. Foods have been assigned moral values as either “good” or “bad,” people have been taught to feel guilt and shame when they eat the “wrong” foods, and strict diets and eating regimens are applauded. We hear people say things like “I’m being bad” when reaching for a donut, or “I’ll have to work this off tomorrow at the gym” when they choose something other than salad for lunch. The constant anti-fat, diet-centric messages and marketing have led to a culture full of disordered eaters.
In 1992, a study published in the Journal of American Dietetic Association found that 46 percent of nine to eleven-year-olds were either “sometimes” or “very often” on diets while 8 percent of their families were “sometimes” or “very often” on diets. More than likely, these numbers have risen with time, as the diet industry has gone from being a mere $50 billion dollar industry in 1991 to an industry that’s projected to garner over $422 billion dollars this year alone (2020). With so many different diet trends and food fads laying down strict rules on how, when, and what we should eat, it’s no surprise that many people are trapped in patterns of disordered eating. In fact, Psychology Today shares that up to 50 percent of the US population demonstrates a disordered relationship with food, body, and exercise.
Since the cultural norm leans towards a disordered and problematic relationship with food, many people today don’t even know what normal eating looks like. So before moving on to examine disordered eating and the role it plays in eating disorder development, let’s first define what normal eating is.
What is Normal Eating?
One of the best-known definitions of normal eating is laid out by dietitian and internationally recognized feeding and eating expert, Ellyn Satter. She shares that normal eating is:
Going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it—not just stopping because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food.
In the last few sentences of her definition, she shares the simple key to normal eating:
Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention but keeps its place as only one important area of your life. In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your hunger, your schedule, your proximity to food, and your feelings.
With this definition in mind, let’s now take a look at what disordered eating is.
What Is Disordered Eating?
Many people may start diets on January 1st, mildly restrict their food selections, or watch their caloric intake from time to time, but when do these behaviors enter the realm of disordered eating?
Eating Disorder Hope shares that disordered eating occurs when an individual consistently engages in abnormal food behaviors or eating patterns on a regular basis. Obviously, this does not apply to individuals who have food intolerances or health problems and have no choice but to adhere to a specific diet.
Symptoms of Disordered Eating:
Common symptoms of disordered eating include, but are not limited to:
Frequent dieting
Skipping meals
Feeling anxious around specific foods
Rigid and excessive rituals around food and exercise
Preoccupation with food to the point of impacting the quality of one’s life
Chronic weight fluctuations
Obsessive calorie counting
Feeling guilt and shame for eating certain (or any) foods
Losing control around food and compulsive overeating
Using fasting, purging, food restrictions, or exercise to “work off” or “make up for” foods consumed
A strict approach to food and eating (inflexible about meal times, refusing to eat in restaurants, only eating certain foods, etc.)
Often people turn to disordered eating to cope with emotions or gain some semblance of control over their lives when other aspects are spinning out of control. The goal of weight loss may be a welcome distraction from other areas of their lives for a while, but unfortunately, disordered eating patterns, thoughts, and behaviors can sometimes take over and lead to a serious eating disorder (more on this later).
Disordered Eating Vs. Eating Disorder: What’s the Difference?
At this point, you may be asking, “Isn’t disordered eating the same thing as an eating disorder?” While people with eating disorders do engage in disordered eating behaviors, not all disordered eaters can be diagnosed with a full-fledged eating disorder.
The main difference between disordered eating and a diagnosed eating disorder has to do with how often the individual engages in disordered behaviors and the degree to which the disordered thoughts and behaviors control their life and cause them to suffer.
In short, disordered eaters may engage in abnormal eating behaviors, but the degree to which they do so does not meet the specific criteria for a full-blown eating disorder. This is not to say, however, that disordered eaters are not at risk. They still may be in danger both emotionally and physically and could be at a greater risk of developing an eating disorder down the road.
Disordered Eating and the Development of Eating Disorders
There is no single cause of eating disorders. Rather, they are most likely brought on by a mixture of environmental, biological, and cultural factors, so it would be misleading to say that chronic dieting or disordered eating causes an individual to develop an eating disorder. However, research shows that disordered eating and compulsive dieting are often precursors to eating disorders.
Many individuals suffering from an eating disorder report that it began as disordered eating according to NEDA. Furthermore, 35 percent of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting (aka disordered eating), and 20-25 percent of pathological dieters will go on to develop an eating disorder (neda.com). Another report from NEDA reveals that in a large study conducted among 14- and 15-year olds, those who engaged in disordered eating and extreme restriction were 18x more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who did not engage in abnormal eating behaviors.
None of this is to say that everyone who engages in disordered eating behaviors will end up with an eating disorder, but they are, however, at a higher risk of developing one. This means getting swept up in things like extreme, chronic dieting, engaging in restrictive behaviors, or adhering to obsessive exercise regimens can be a dangerous step towards a future eating disorder.
How to Stop Disordered Eating
Unfortunately, the cultural fixation on thinness (or the “War on Fat”) and subsequent obsession with extreme dieting and exercise makes it more difficult to detect disordered eating patterns and behaviors. However, early detection and termination of disordered eating is often a crucial step in preventing a future eating disorder, so it’s important to 1) learn how to detect disordered eating patterns (consult the symptoms of disordered eating listed earlier), and 2) break the habits of disordered eating before it progresses any further.
In many cases, professional help (like a registered dietitian or eating disorder therapist) may be necessary to break the habits of disordered eating. If you or a loved one may be struggling with disordered eating, contact us today to learn more about our outpatient programs.