Do you find yourself avoiding certain foods or food groups, losing connection to feelings of hunger and satiety, intentionally skipping meals due to fear of weight fluctuations, following the newest fad diet or weighing yourself more often than desired?
If you answered yes to any or all of those statements or even if you didn’t but feel controlled by diet culture, keep reading.
In this blog, we are discussing disordered eating from the definition and causes to the signs and treatment options. This comprehensive resource is available for you whether you are experiencing disordered eating patterns or are looking to improve your relationship with food.
We encourage you to keep this guide as a reference for yourself or share with friends, family or coworkers that may benefit from the information.
What is Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating is a term used when an individual has abnormal behaviors around food but does not meet the criteria to be diagnosed with an eating disorder. (1)
It is important to realize that everyone is at risk of being affected by disordered eating regardless of age, race, gender, or current body weight.
Eating Disorder vs Disordered Eating
While every individual with an eating disorder experiences disordered eating, not every person with disordered eating has an eating disorder.
Disordered eating does have the potential to turn into a diagnosed eating disorder and even if these irregular eating patterns do not progress into a diagnosis, there are short term and potential long term health consequences if not addressed.
What causes Disordered Eating
Similar to eating disorders, no one, including you, wakes up one day and chooses to develop disordered eating. There are often underlying causes, thoughts or feelings that lead someone to engage in disordered eating patterns.
From fad diets to diet culture, there are many external influences that drive someone to develop negative feelings or behaviors toward diet and exercise.
Understanding why it is happening in the first place is an important first step.
At Anyone’s Journey, our ultimate goal is to create an individualized treatment plan, and to do this requires a deep understanding of your thoughts and feelings around food and your body. We then can help you strive towards developing your own food philosophy that provides and nourishes your body appropriately.
Signs of Disordered Eating
Taking a step back to educate yourself on the warning signs can raise awareness and prevent these behaviors or emotions from progressing into a diagnosed eating disorder.
Some of the most common habits may include but are not limited to:
-
- Avoiding foods or food groups for a specific reason(s)
-
- Compulsive behaviors r/t food and exercise
-
- Fasting behaviors
-
- Having strict food rules
-
- Feeling guilt, shame or anxiety before or after meals
-
- Frequently following fad diets
-
- Chronic weight fluctuations
-
- Poor body image
It is important to note that you do not have to present with one of these specific warning signs for there to be a concern or further support provided.
How a Dietitian Helps With Disordered Eating
If you find yourself struggling with disordered eating, seeking professional help early is important. Registered Dietitians are experts within the field of nutrition and can help meet you where you are at in your nutrition journey.
Walking with you each step of the way, dietitians trained in treating disordered eating can help you identify barriers, indicate reliable and scientific based information and challenge feelings and emotions related to health.
Dietitians are specialized not only to provide accurate nutrition information but hold you accountable as you strive to have a healthier relationship with food and your body.
Dietitians can also help connect you with a team of specialists to support your overall well-being. Collaborating with a team of physicians, therapists and other professionals can build the foundation you need to overcome these feelings and behaviors.
You Deserve A Personalized Approach
Here at Anyone’s Journey, we specialize in eating disorders and disordered eating with the approach that short strides result in long term possibilities.
Our clinicians value working at a pace that is comfortable for each client. It’s important to recognize, though, when a client requires that extra push to reach their personalized health goals. We can be that push to get you there.
Contact us by calling 612-638-2778, emailing contact@anyonesjourney.com or completing our Referral Form.
References