Is It Disordered Eating or an Eating Disorder?

Sometimes life is hectic. We cannot control the actions and words of others, the economy, or the health of our loved ones. However, many people find that they can control (to some extent) the quantity and quality of the food they consume. But when do planning and organizing become an unhealthy obsession with dieting? Are you experiencing disordered eating, or have you developed a severe eating disorder?

It is easy to confuse the two; however, both are slippery slopes into physical, mental, and emotional conditions. The clearer you can identify where you stand when it comes to your eating patterns and weight management, the better suited your therapy care and quality of life will be.

Common Eating Disorders

Eating disorders (ED) are serious health conditions that require treatment for the patient to stop the vicious cycle and regain a healthier state of mind and physical body. The disorders are so life-threatening that 20% of people with eating disorders who do not seek help eventually die from the complications that stem from the ED. The most common eating disorders we treat include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge-eating.

Anorexia

Anorexia Nervosa is one of the most well-known eating disorders. The condition took the limelight with the death of American singer Karen Carpenter in 1983 from complications arising from anorexia. The disease can lead to often irreversible damage and fatal results.

Anorexics develop unhealthy perceptions about their body. Although typically thin, they may still view themselves as overweight and express a genuine fear of gaining weight. This fear can lead them to starve themselves for long periods, refuse food, exercise beyond their limits, and engage in other risky behaviors to control their weight, such as consuming laxatives or diuretics (water pills).

Someone with anorexia symptoms may:

• Lose large amounts of weight quickly
• Become too thin to the point of creating a skeletal appearance
• Have fainting or dizzy spells
• Have irregular or slow pulse
• Low blood pressure
• An absence of the menstrual cycle (in women)
• Hair loss or breakage
• Discolored teeth or cavities from vomiting
• Mood swings with bouts of severe depression
• Excessive or extreme workout sessions or overly long exercise sessions

Once the vicious cycle has begun, it is difficult for an anorexic to overcome the behaviors on their own without medical treatment. The body requires nutrients to function, and without them, it begins to shut down, eventually leading to organ failure. These physical symptoms do require medical intervention. Psychotherapy can treat the psychological mindset behind anorexia.

Individual, family, and group therapy sessions are excellent methods of defeating anorexia and its counterpart, bulimia.

Bulimia

Bulimia nervosa is partly an extension of anorexic behaviors – the sufferer still maintains a preoccupation with food but may demonstrate out of control behaviors such as bingeing and purging. The panic that a bulimic feels after bingeing is real. The fear of gaining weight leads them to use methods like induced vomiting, laxatives, or diuretics to purge excess food.

Unlike anorexia, a bulimic may be able to hide their behavior longer. They may feel like they can still eat out with their friends if they slip away and purge the meal as quickly as possible. On the other hand, some bulimics develop a fear of judgment when out eating with others and may choose small amounts of food or bypass the meal altogether, preferring to eat in isolation.

The symptoms of bulimia are like the ones listed above for anorexia, but may also include:

• Bingeing and other out-of-control behaviors
• Purging after a binge
• Mood swings, anxiety, and depression
• Rigid regimens such as exercising even when sick or inconvenient
• Preoccupied with body image and diets
• Cuts out entire food groups to control weight
• Only eats from one food group to control weight
• Scale dramatically shows ups and downs with weight
• May be overweight

Bulimics are also at a higher risk for developing comorbid conditions such as mood disorders, self-harm, substance, and alcohol abuse, or self-destructive behaviors. The consequences of these behaviors can result in sexually transmitted diseases, addictions, criminal records, family and relationship problems, and mental health issues.

Medical treatment and counseling can help to overcome these behaviors, change thoughts and actions, and heal emotional trauma that may be at the root of the bulimic’s condition. A mental health care professional can teach techniques that will improve a bulimic patient’s self-esteem and reduce stress levels.

Binge Eating

Binge eating goes beyond the annual family celebration of Thanksgiving, with everyone lying about with full bellies and stretchy pants. Binge eating is a severe disorder that creates feelings of uncontrollable urges, panic, shame, and guilt. The person with binge eating tendencies may go days following a rigid diet only to find themselves giving in and consuming thousands of calories of food within a noticeably short time.

A binge eater’s evening may consist of putting the children to bed, only to indulge in their favorite snacks. It may include driving by a fast food window to order a combo meal (or two) and pulling over to eat and hiding the trash so that their family does not know of their behavior. These out of control urges lead to shame and low self-esteem.

Although food is everywhere, to a binge eater food acts like a drug, providing comfort and security, albeit temporarily. Our hearts were created to seek the Father God for pleasure and fulfillment, but somewhere along the way, we have experienced that surge of brain chemicals that make us happy with the food.

We can help you get to the root of your binge eating behavior. You will learn new routines and how to incorporate these new tactics into your daily life to reduce the number of eating binges you engage in.

If you feel that you are binge eating frequently or eating in secret because you feel ashamed of your behavior, know that you are not alone. We are here to help you walk the journey to freedom. Jesus Christ offers freedom in every area of your life. We can help you remove the chains that have bound you to the pantry.

Disordered Eating

Some of the behaviors seen commonly with eating disorders appear with disordered eating as well, including starvation, bingeing, and purging. With disordered eating, the sufferer controls every aspect of the eating process.

Instead of dining in peace, they become preoccupied with every calorie and macronutrient. They may become aggravated or refuse to deviate from the timing of their meals, even if this means they cannot enjoy a celebration with friends and family.

Disordered eating can lead to a distorted body image. When we allow something such as extreme exercise to rule our days, we begin to develop a negative perception of reality. God designed us with hardworking bodies that can withstand extreme stress when necessary. However, those with disordered eating tendencies are creating overbearing pressure not only on the body but in their emotional state.

What does disordered eating look like, and how can you tell if you are leaning towards it?

• If you find yourself dieting frequently
• If you develop an increase in anxiety when eating outside of your diet “rules”
• If you feel anxious or panicky about skipping meals
• If you use exercise to counteract a binge or after consuming “bad” foods
• If you become abnormally upset about missing an exercise session
• If you use other methods to control your behavior like fasting or purging
• If your life revolves around the timing of your meals or workouts
• If you feel out of control when it comes to your eating at times
• If your weight fluctuates consistently

Even though disordered eating falls outside of the strict categories of eating disorders described by the American Psychiatric Association, the behaviors can be detrimental to your mental and physical health. You must reach out to a professional that specializes in eating disorders of all types to assist you in breaking the cycle.

If you or a loved one need help in battling an eating disorder, reach out to us. We provide personalized therapy with a faith-based narrative to help you defeat the issues holding you back from being your best self.