It can seem like diets are talked about everywhere these days: in the news, advertising, social media, magazines (they still exist!), and in so many of the conversations we have with our friends and family. You may also have started to hear terms lately like disordered eating or eating disorders. And that dieting can be a slippery slope leading to disordered eating or an eating disorder.

So how do you know if a ‘diet’ may in fact be disordered eating? And is that different from an eating disorder? Read on to learn more about disordered eating and what to do if you are struggling with it.

How is it different from an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition, with specific criteria that must be met for that diagnosis. Disordered eating includes behaviours that make up eating disorder criteria, but the behaviours may not be severe or frequent enough to meet the threshold for diagnosis.1, 2

If we were to imagine a spectrum spanning normal eating at one end and a clinically diagnosed eating disorder at the other, disordered eating takes up most of that space in between.3

It can be different for everyone, and the approach for treating it may be different depending on where you fall on the spectrum.

Examples of disordered eating behaviours can include1-4

  • Frequent dieting or yo-yo dieting
  • Having rigid rules around food and eating
  • Skipping meals or fasting
  • Avoiding certain foods or food groups for reasons other than taste or sensory preferences
  • Bingeing, or feeling out of control with eating
  • Experiencing anxiety, guilt, or shame about food and eating
  • Excessive exercise, usually to compensate for eating certain types or amounts of food or to change body weight or shape
  • Self-induced vomiting
  • Misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas
  • Using diet pills, creatine, or steroids

I think I have disordered eating, but not an eating disorder. Does that mean I am not sick enough for treatment?

Disordered eating can have a range of impacts on both physical and mental health. There are risks to physical health from restriction of foods, and from bingeing, purging or using laxatives or diet pills for example. Some examples of the health risks of disordered eating are:1-5

  • Increased appetite or food cravings
  • Risk of nutrient deficiencies from restriction of amount or types of foods
  • Risk of electrolyte imbalances from vomiting or laxative use
  • Side effects from diet pills or steroid use
  • Increased risk of type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol from binge eating
  • Gastrointestinal issues such as constipation
  • Damage to teeth and throat from vomiting
  • Loss of menstrual cycle from very low food intake
  • Insomnia, fatigue, or headaches
  • Reduced ability to know when you are hungry or full
  • Changes in normal body temperature (e.g., feeling cold all the time as the body tries to conserve energy)
  • Reduction in bone density
  • Decreased ability to concentrate, affecting work or school performance

Evidence shows that disordered eating can also affect quality of life.1 Mental health can be impacted by feelings of guilt or shame about food choices and constant anxiety about being ‘good’ with food or eating. Some people may find it challenging to go out to social events for fear they will not be able to eat the ‘right’ foods. This may lead to social isolation or difficulty enjoying social occasions due to a preoccupation with food. For some, worries about their food choices can lead to further disordered behaviours to compensate for eating foods that are considered ‘bad’, or don’t fit with a rigid diet.

Disordered eating behaviours can also increase the risk of a person developing an eating disorder.6 It is important if you are struggling with food and nutrition in any way, to chat to a healthcare professional for support around your eating habits.

I’m concerned about my eating habits, what should I do?

If you are concerned about your eating and/or relationship with food, you can chat to a GP, dietitian, or psychologist. Dietitians and registered psychologists are trained in screening for disordered eating behaviours and can refer you to your GP or a clinical psychologist if they suspect that you may have an eating disorder. GPs and clinical psychologists are specifically trained in diagnosing eating disorders and are a good place to start if you are concerned about your risk of an eating disorder.

Your GP can also do a medical assessment to ensure that you are healthy and assess your eligibility for treatment and referral plans under Medicare to help with the costs of seeing a dietitian and/or psychologist.

Whether or not you are concerned about an eating disorder, it can also be beneficial to chat to a psychologist or dietitian about your worries around food and/or body image. Psychologists can help with the thoughts and feelings associated with disordered eating including around food and eating, and body image issues. They can also help you with putting in place strategies for working through stress or other emotions that may be behind behaviours such as emotional eating.

What should I expect from a dietitian if I have disordered eating?

Dietitians can help you to identify which eating behaviours are disordered or abnormal and help with overcoming nutritional impacts of disordered eating. For example, managing deficiencies, nutritional management of lower bone density, or re-establishing or re-learning hunger and fullness signals, to name a few.

Dietitians can also help you with navigating the minefield of information that’s out there to reduce the confusion and resulting stress around food and nutrition. They will give you evidence-based advice on healthy dietary patterns that are tailored to your health needs and lifestyle and work with you on practical strategies for moving towards a healthy pattern of eating that takes out the stress and worry about what to eat and when.

Read more about how a dietitian can help you here.

If you or someone you love may be struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder, then please reach out to our team. Dietitian Sian Hopkins would love to support you in building a healthy relationship with food.

References

  1. Wu XY, Yin WQ, Sun HW, Yang SX, Li XY, Liu HQ. The association between disordered eating and health-related quality of life among children and adolescents: A systematic review of population-based studies. PLoS One. 2019;14(10):e0222777. Published 2019 Oct 4. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0222777
  2. Anderson, M. What is Disordered Eating? Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Published October 26, 2018. Updated February 2020. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://www.eatright.org/health/diseases-and-conditions/eating-disorders/what-is-disordered-eating
  3. National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC). Disordered Eating & Dieting. NEDC Website. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/disordered-eating-and-dieting/
  4. Eating Disorders Victoria. Disordered eating and dieting. Eating Disorders Victoria Website. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://www.eatingdisorders.org.au/eating-disorders-a-z/disordered-eating-and-dieting/
  5. Hall KD, Kahan S. Maintenance of Lost Weight and Long-Term Management of Obesity. Med Clin North Am. 2018;102(1):183-197. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2017.08.012
  6. Patton GC, Selzer R, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Wolfe R. Onset of adolescent eating disorders: population based cohort study over 3 years. BMJ. 1999;318(7186):765-768. doi:10.1136/bmj.318.7186.765