[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/08\/what-is-disordered-eating\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/08\/what-is-disordered-eating\/","headline":"What Is Disordered Eating?","name":"What Is Disordered Eating?","description":"Are your eating habits putting you at risk for disordered eating and eating disorders","datePublished":"2021-08-27","dateModified":"2025-05-09","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/behavioral-health-regions","name":"UPMC Western Behavioral Health","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/behavioral-health-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/behavioral-health\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/what-is-disordered-eating.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/what-is-disordered-eating.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/08\/what-is-disordered-eating\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Mental Health"],"wordCount":1138,"articleBody":"Eating is one of life\u2019s basic functions. What we eat and drink helps our body to grow and thrive. However, some people develop an unhealthy relationship and preoccupation with food, eating, calories, weight, or body shape. This is known as disordered eating.Not all people with disordered eating recognize that their habits and behavior around food can cause problems. They can think that what they\u2019re doing is perfectly normal and even healthy.Here\u2019s what you need to know to recognize disordered eating and its consequences in you or someone you love.What Is Disordered Eating?Disordered eating is the umbrella term for a range of unhealthy behaviors around eating and food, according to the\u00a0Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Disordered eating warning signs and symptomsCommon signs of disordered eating include:Engaging in strict routines and rituals regarding food and exercise.Experiencing anxiety associated with specific foods.Experiencing chronic weight fluctuations.Feeling a loss of control when eating food, including having compulsive eating habits or binge eating.Feeling shame and guilt after eating.Going on extreme diets.Having a preoccupation with food, weight, calorie intake, or body image that negatively impacts your quality of life \u2014 and potentially even your health.Skipping meals.Using exercise, food restriction, fasting, or purging to make up for eating large amounts of foods or less nutritious foods.Using weight loss pills, laxatives, or diuretics (water pills).Yo-yo dieting.Dangers of disordered eatingLeft untreated, disordered eating can put you at an increased risk for physical and mental health issues, including:Anxiety.Bone loss.Depression.Eating disorders.Electrolyte and fluid imbalances.Gastrointestinal problems.Low blood pressure and heart rate.Significant weight loss or gain.Social isolation.Differences between disordered eating and eating disordersUnlike eating disorders, which must meet criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), disordered eating itself is not a diagnosis.For some, disordered eating may lead to a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.Anorexia nervosa (AN)The diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa (AN) is the restriction of energy intake, leading to significantly low body weight. Extreme weight loss or staying below normal body weight often occurs through one or more of these actions:Binging and purging.Excessive exercise.Restricted eating.Use of diet pills and\/or laxatives.Bulimia nervosa (BN)The diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa (BN) include frequent binge eating with a sense of losing control over eating during the episode. In addition, people with BN will engage in behaviors to prevent or counteract weight gain. These include:Excessive exercise.Fasting.Self-induced vomiting or purging.Using laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics.Other criteria for a diagnosis of BN include:Engaging in both binge eating and unhealthy weight loss behaviors at least once a week for at least three months.Not meeting the criteria for anorexia nervosa.Tying self-esteem to weight or shape.Binge eating disorder (BED)The diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder (BED) include repeated episodes of binge eating, with a sense of losing control over eating. This includes:Eating alone because of embarrassment about overeating.Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.Eating much faster than normal.Eating until uncomfortably full.Feeling disgusted, depressed, or very guilty after overeating.Having episodes at least once a week for at least three months.What Causes Disordered Eating?There\u2019s no one specific cause of disordered eating. But some people are more at risk for engaging in disordered eating and eating disorders.Eating disorders affect up to 5% of the population, according to the APA. Risk factors for the onset and maintenance of disordered eating and eating disorders include biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. These include:Age \u2014 Though they can happen at any age, eating disorders most often develop in adolescence and young adulthood.Sex \u2014 Eating disorders are most common for females between the ages of 12 and 35. However, eating disorders also occur across men and women. Research is ongoing on the rates and presentations of eating disorders across sexes.Genes and family history \u2014 Genes and family history may put you at a higher risk for disordered eating or eating disorders, according to the APA.Mental health disorders \u2014 Mental health disorders often co-occur with eating disorders. This is especially true with mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and alcohol and drug use disorders.Social pressure \u2014 Teasing, bullying, and negative comments from peers, coaches, family, and others can all contribute to eating disorder risks. Sports and activities that involve weight-, shape-, or eating-related criteria can also cause an increased risk.Weight and body shape stigma \u2014 Being treated differently by family members, peers, or health care providers because of your size or body shape can contribute to poor self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and depression. This can lead to an increased risk for eating disorders.When Should You Get Help for Disordered Eating?If you or someone in your life is experiencing an eating disorder or disordered eating patterns, it’s important to seek professional help. Evidence-based interventions for unhealthy eating behaviors can help improve health, relationships with food and weight, and quality of life.Eating disorders can resemble an addiction, according to the APA. They can have negative impacts on your physical and psychological health. They can also impair your relationships and social life.It also is important to seek help for disordered eating patterns. Even without an official mental health diagnosis, disordered eating can be a warning sign that a person is struggling. Disordered eating can be a precursor to an eventual eating disorder diagnosis.If you\u2019re concerned that your eating- or weight-related behaviors have become unhealthy, see a health care provider. Because of the nature of disordered eating, you may not recognize or want to admit you need professional guidance. Use the warning signs and symptoms above as a guideline to get help.UPMC Western Behavioral Health Center for Eating DisordersThe\u00a0UPMC Western Behavioral Health Center for Eating Disorders (CED) helps people overcome disordered eating and a range of eating disorders. It\u2019s one of the nation\u2019s few eating disorders treatment programs affiliated with an academic medical center. It provides several levels of care for eating disorders.After you or someone on your behalf contacts the CED, our team will reach out to set up an evaluation. Referral forms from health care providers and family members are also available. You will undergo a\u00a0comprehensive eating disorders screening process\u00a0to evaluate your disordered eating. Working collaboratively with psychiatric and behavioral specialists, UPMC provides treatment for children, adolescents, and adults.For more information or to make a referral, visit the Center for Eating Disorders\u00a0website\u00a0or call:General questions and outpatient services \u2014\u00a0412-246-6390.Intake referrals \u2014\u00a0412-624-1000.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on August 27, 2021, and was last reviewed on July 11, 2024."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"08","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/08\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Is Disordered Eating?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/08\/what-is-disordered-eating\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]