Disordered Eating
 

Your eating habits might not qualify as a clinically defined eating disorder, but you or those around you might still feel troubled by unhealthy food-related behaviors. It’s worth noting that these patterns can often signal the early stages of an eating disorder and shouldn’t be brushed off lightly.

If any of these issues resonate with you, please consider talking to your GP:

  • A pervasive focus on dieting, which might involve limiting intake, skipping meals, fixating on calorie counts, or dodging entire food categories. This could also include using laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics, and pushing exercise to excess.
  • A preoccupation with “clean” or “healthy” eating—sometimes called “Orthorexia” in casual terms—where someone steers clear of foods or whole food groups they view as unhealthy. This might mean cutting out fats or carbs, and possibly leaning on supplements, protein powders, or trendy “health” foods.

In addition, a person with Orthorexia might show other compulsive tendencies, like :-

  • Excessive or intense exercise.
  • Emotional overeating – Turning to food based on mood rather than physical hunger.
  • Compulsive overeating – Sometimes felt or recognized as a milder version of Binge Eating Disorder.
  • A struggle to sustain a balanced approach to food, even when health risks or issues arise. This may, though not always, serve as a way to cope with emotions.

Disordered Eating encompasses a variety of irregular eating habits, many of which overlap with the signs used to diagnose an eating disorder.

The distinction between an eating disorder and disordered eating lies in how severe and frequent these habits are. A person might occasionally binge, purge, use laxatives or diet pills, or skip meals, but not to a degree that meets the full criteria for an official eating disorder diagnosis.

These patterns are quite common and often arise following a challenging life event or illness. For most people, they’re temporary, with normal eating and behavior resuming afterward.

It’s essential to notice—whether in yourself or someone else—when disordered eating habits risk escalating into a full-fledged eating disorder. If these patterns start affecting daily routines, relationships, or other behaviors, it’s wise to consult your GP or contact us for guidance.

Acting early, as ever, is critical to prevent these habits and thought processes from becoming firmly rooted.

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