In a world that is obsessed with attaining the “perfect” body, conversations related to food, weight, and eating habits have become a lot more common. There has also been a rise in the incidence of eating disorders.
It’s important to differentiate between diagnosed eating disorders vs. disordered eating, as these terms encompass distinct experiences with varying levels of severity and impact on a person’s well-being.
Understanding Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits and an extreme preoccupation with food, body weight, and shape. They also often involve severe disturbances in a person’s perception of themselves.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classifies several types of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and more.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, leading people to significantly restrict their food intake. People with anorexia may have a distorted body image and engage in extreme behaviours to maintain a low body weight.
But contrary to popular belief, it’s not just thin people who can have anorexia. Atypical anorexia describes a situation where a person has all the symptoms of anorexia nervosa but have a normal or above normal body weight. It’s important to realize that atypical anorexia can be just as devastating as traditional anorexia nervosa and deserves specialized care.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent episodes of binge eating, during which a person eats large amounts of food. This is followed by behaviours to compensate for the binge, such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or the use of laxatives.
Binge-Eating Disorder
Binge-eating disorder is marked by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food without engaging in behaviours to try and compensate for the binge. People with binge eating disorder often feel a loss of control during these episodes and may experience intense feelings of guilt and shame after a binge.
Orthorexia
Orthorexia involves an obsession with only eating foods that are perceived as “healthy.” While a focus on nutrition is generally positive, an extreme preoccupation with “clean” eating can lead to rigid dietary restrictions, social isolation, and impaired overall well-being.
Understanding Disordered Eating
When it comes to eating disorders vs. disordered eating, disordered eating refers to a range of irregular eating behaviours that may not meet the criteria for a diagnosed eating disorder. However, that doesn’t mean that these behaviours don’t have a negative impact on a person’s physical and mental well-being.
Chronic Dieting
One common form of disordered eating is chronic dieting. This is where a person consistently engages in restrictive diets, often with the goal of achieving a specific body weight or shape. The constant focus on dieting can contribute to intense feelings of guilt, anxiety, and obsession with food.
Yo-Yo Dieting
Repeated cycles of weight loss and gain, known as yo-yo dieting, can be an indication or disordered eating. This pattern can negatively impact metabolism, body composition, and mental health.
Eating Disorders vs. Disordered Eating: Key Differences
There are several key differences between eating disorders and disordered eating.
Severity and Clinical Diagnosis
The primary difference between eating disorders vs. disordered eating lies in the severity and the clinical diagnosis. Diagnosed eating disorders meet specific criteria outlined in the DSM-5, indicating a severe impact on physical and mental health. Disordered eating, while still harmful, may not reach the diagnostic threshold for a specific eating disorder.
Impact on Daily Functioning
Eating disorders often significantly impair a person’s ability to function in daily life, impacting relationships, work, and overall quality of life. Disordered eating, while disruptive and challenging, may not lead to such extreme consequences.
Underlying Psychological Factors
Diagnosed eating disorders are closely tied to underlying psychological factors, such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, and body dysmorphia. Disordered eating may also have psychological roots but may be more responsive to early intervention and support.
Final Thoughts
In a culture that often glamourizes unrealistic beauty standards and promotes unhealthy relationships with food, it’s important to recognize the difference between diagnosed eating disorders vs. disordered eating.
Both warrant attention and support, but understanding the differences is imperative for effective intervention and compassionate care. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, you deserve support.
At Journey to Health, our therapists and dietitians help people with all types of eating disorders and disordered eating make peace with food and their bodies and develop a healthier relationship with food. Click here to book a free 20 minute consultation call to learn more.
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