What Are the Signs of Disordered Eating?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns and SymptomsRisksTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs and Symptoms

Risks

Treatment

Disordered eatingrefers to a range of irregular eating behaviors. Some behaviors include restricting the amount of food one eats, compulsive eating, and overly restricting the types of food one eats.

Disordered eating differs fromeating disorders. The criteria for eating disorders are established in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition(DSM-5). Patterns of disordered eating do not fulfill the criteria for an eating disorder, even though some signs of disordered eating might exist.

Up to 20% of people in the population struggle with disordered eating symptoms that do not meet the full criteria of an eating disorder.However, even cases of disordered eating that do not meet DSM-5 criteria for eating disorders can lead to significant health issues and distress.

This article will discuss physical and emotional signs of disordered eating, risks, and treatment.

Verywell / Julie Bang

Emotional Signs of Disordered Eating - Illustration by Julie Bang

Disordered eating may include the following:

Disordered Eating vs. Eating DisorderWhile “disordered eating” sounds strikingly similar to an “eating disorder,” the difference between them has to do with the severity of symptoms. Some with disordered eating patterns will fit the diagnostic criteria in the DMS-5 for a full-blown eating disorder. But it is also possible to have patterns of disordered eating, such as restricting the amount of food consumed, that do not rise to the level of an eating disorder.

Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorder

While “disordered eating” sounds strikingly similar to an “eating disorder,” the difference between them has to do with the severity of symptoms. Some with disordered eating patterns will fit the diagnostic criteria in the DMS-5 for a full-blown eating disorder. But it is also possible to have patterns of disordered eating, such as restricting the amount of food consumed, that do not rise to the level of an eating disorder.

Physical Signs of Disordered Eating

The most common physical symptoms of disordered eating include:

Emotional Signs of Disordered Eating

The most common emotional signs include:

Risks of Disordered Eating

People who have disordered eating patterns might not immediately see the impact their eating habits have on their physical and mental health. However, complications can, indeed, arise in disordered eating, such as:

Who’s at Risk of Disordered Eating?

Anyone can develop habits of disordered eating. However, there are some risk factors that may increase the likelihood that a person might develop disordered eating. Some of these risk factors include:

Reach out to a healthcare provider if you are at risk for developing disordered eating or have concerns about your or a loved one’s eating patterns.

When to Seek HelpAsk yourself these questions to determine if you need help:Do you use food to escape from stress?Does the number on your weighing scale affect your thinking?Are you constantly thinking of food?Do you binge eat?

When to Seek Help

Ask yourself these questions to determine if you need help:Do you use food to escape from stress?Does the number on your weighing scale affect your thinking?Are you constantly thinking of food?Do you binge eat?

Ask yourself these questions to determine if you need help:

People who suspect they have disordered eating can seek treatment with a mental health professional. Psychotherapy can help people understand their relationship with food, achieve body acceptance, and explore the relationship patterns and other psychological issues that contribute to disordered eating.

Often, people with disordered eating do not realize that their eating patterns may be harmful. Registered dieticians, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals are equipped to help those struggling with disordered eating patterns to gain insight into their outlook on food and prevent disordered eating from progressing to an eating disorder.

Summary

Disordered eating patterns include restricting the quantity or type of food you eat, eating compulsively, and other unusual eating patterns. Typically, disordered eating does not meet all the criteria for an eating disorder. Healthcare professionals including primary care physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, registered dietitians, and nutritionists can all help assess whether someone has disordered eating patterns. Treatment can include psychotherapy and working with a registered dietician or nutritionist.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.López-Gil JF, Jiménez-López E, Fernández-Rodríguez R, et al.Prevalence of disordered eating and its associated factors from a socioecological approach among a sample of Spanish adolescents: the EHDLA study.Int J Public Health. 2023;68:1605820. doi:10.3389/ijph.2023.1605820Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.What is disordered eating?National Eating Disorders Association.Warning Signs and Symptoms.Solmi M, Radua J, Stubbs B, et al.Risk factors for eating disorders: an umbrella review of published meta-analyses.Braz J Psychiatry. 2020;43:314-323. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1099Additional ReadingAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics.What is disordered eating?National Eating Disorders Association.Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorders.

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.López-Gil JF, Jiménez-López E, Fernández-Rodríguez R, et al.Prevalence of disordered eating and its associated factors from a socioecological approach among a sample of Spanish adolescents: the EHDLA study.Int J Public Health. 2023;68:1605820. doi:10.3389/ijph.2023.1605820Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.What is disordered eating?National Eating Disorders Association.Warning Signs and Symptoms.Solmi M, Radua J, Stubbs B, et al.Risk factors for eating disorders: an umbrella review of published meta-analyses.Braz J Psychiatry. 2020;43:314-323. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1099Additional ReadingAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics.What is disordered eating?National Eating Disorders Association.Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorders.

López-Gil JF, Jiménez-López E, Fernández-Rodríguez R, et al.Prevalence of disordered eating and its associated factors from a socioecological approach among a sample of Spanish adolescents: the EHDLA study.Int J Public Health. 2023;68:1605820. doi:10.3389/ijph.2023.1605820Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.What is disordered eating?National Eating Disorders Association.Warning Signs and Symptoms.Solmi M, Radua J, Stubbs B, et al.Risk factors for eating disorders: an umbrella review of published meta-analyses.Braz J Psychiatry. 2020;43:314-323. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1099

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.What is disordered eating?

National Eating Disorders Association.Warning Signs and Symptoms.

Solmi M, Radua J, Stubbs B, et al.Risk factors for eating disorders: an umbrella review of published meta-analyses.Braz J Psychiatry. 2020;43:314-323. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1099

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.What is disordered eating?National Eating Disorders Association.Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorders.

National Eating Disorders Association.Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorders.

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Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorder#

Physical Signs of Disordered Eating#

Emotional Signs of Disordered Eating#

Risks of Disordered Eating#

Who’s at Risk of Disordered Eating?#

When to Seek Help#

Summary#