Eating Disorders Support Group
Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.
I wonder if I have an eating disorder or just disordered eating. I eat very healthy. I eat mostly organic, lean protein, complex carbs, etc. I used to binge a few times per week but since I started eating clean, I don't ever eat and get "full". I maybe have one piece of dark chocolate per day and ice cream once or twice per week. However, when my husband would go out of town or if I was out of town, I would plan for weeks what I will eat that night... cheesecake or icecream, etc. and I plan my day/night around that one food. I would rather stay in and eat then go out with friends, etc. I plan what I eat and when I will eat it for every minute of every day. I don't ever put anything in my mouth without thinking about what impact it may have on my weight. Whether it is an apple or piece of chocolate, I won't eat it without thinking of how it plays into my daily intake. Can a person have an eating disorder even if they don't binge on junk? I also hide that I eat anything that might not be clean. I am embarassed to buy ice cream and I won't eat any "junk" in front of someone else. I have never spoken to anyone about this. Then I would thnk about the food and that the other person is thinking about me thinking about food. Does that make sense? Does any of this make sense? Thanks for any input.
"Okay, so this has just been my take on this, and I wonder if you'll agree:
These days, disordered eating and EDs are two terms that are used interchangeably. However, while disordered eating is a symptom of an eating disorder, you may not necessary have an ED if you have disordered eating. To clarify: disordered eating is a behaviour, symptom, physical action; whereas, an ED is the medical diagnosis, the actual mental illness, that is the sum of both physical AND mental symptoms.
For example: Take "distorted body image"- you CAN have distorted body image without necessarily have an ED, but it is listed as an almost CERTAIN mental symptom of an ED.
Anyway, if you're wanting to see "disordered eating vs eating disorder" in a more "real life" situation, try pondering this: When was the last time you've seen/heard an ad or a friend promoting some sort of ridiculous or out-of-this-world diet, claiming that it will make them healthier? Now, the fad diet could be considered disordered eating. It's certainly not healthy (see a dietitian if you want a healthy meal plan, people...sheesh!) and it's rather obvious that despite trying to assure everyone that the diet is healthy (cutting out all carbs [AKA ENERGY!], no "white" foods allowed, only eat 5 "specially forumulated" cookies a day, etc...uhm, WHAT?!), they are unwilling to lose the weight by using APPROPRIATE and HEALTHY eating habits. Hence, that example may be considered disordered eating, which, to me, makes it all the more understandable that statistics show 90% (I think?) of all women in the US having disordered eating.
However (pertaining to the above example), to determine if the disordered eating is also part of a bigger issue (an ED), you must follow-up by asking: Does the person following the fad diet plan have a skewed view on their body image (seeing themselves as needing to lose weight when they are at a normal or healthy weight, for example)? Do they use the diet as a way to cope with uncomfortable feelings and emotions? Are they exhibiting the physical/emotional effects typical of EDs (for example, significant weight loss in a short period of time, cessation of menstrual cycle, severe decline in energy or mental faculties, withdrawn/less social/extreme mood swings, following the "rules" of the diet so strictly that it becomes almost obsessive-compulsive, doing other ED-related behaviours like purging/over-exercising/hiding or hoarding food, etc), and, despite being aware of the negative changes, refusing to "quit dieting"? Are they a "chronic dieter" who seems to have tried every "new and improved" diet or weight loss pill or exercise DVD out there? Do they have co-morbid mental illnesses/negative coping mechanisms (depression, bipolar, OCD, drug/alcohol addiction, self-injury, etc) and/or a history of eating disorders in their family?
Obviously, our example friend would need to see a doctor/dietitian/therapist to get medically diagnosed with an eating disorder, but if the dieter presents the majority of those OTHER symptoms, it is pretty evident that the "disordered eating" goes much deeper than just being "a bit too impatient to lose weight appropriately" or "a little self-conscious about some extra weight." In this case, the disordered eating is just one SYMPTOM among many due to an eating disorder.
Wow, sorry for the lonnnggggg post. My brain hurts- put waaaaay too much thought into that! Haha. I just hope you were able to follow the points I was making and that I could help somewhat. :)"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthorexia_nervosa
"Symptoms of orthorexia nervosa may include obsession with healthy eating, emaciation, and death by starvation. Orthorexic subjects typically have specific feelings towards different types of food. Preserved products are described as "dangerous", industrially produced products as "artificial", and biological products as "healthy". Sufferers demonstrate a strong or uncontrollable desire to eat when feeling nervous, excited, happy or guilty. According to the abstract of a 2004 study quoted on PubMed, a service of the National Institutes of Health, "The analysis of the physiological characteristics, the social-cultural and the psychological behaviour that characterises subjects suffering from ON shows a higher prevalence in men and in those with a lower level of education.""
That being said, eating disorders are tricky creatures- typically, one doesn't "fit" into the AN/BN/COE/BED/EDNOS diagnosis box in every way. No one here can diagnose you or tell you if you have an eating disorder, though it seems pretty obvious that you realise there's a problem, and that's half the battle. My recommendation, as always, is to get in to see a therapist and be completely honest with him/her, not only about the food/weight/behaviour issues, but about everything else that is going on in your life and that went on in your past. This can help you sort out and get support/tools for dealing with the feelings of guilt, shame, fear, etc you have. Once you have been seeing a therapist for awhile, I also recommend seeing a dietitian (not nutritionist, only because they have less experience/education), so that you can (re)learn the importance of balance when it comes to your nutrition, and that there is no "good" or "bad" food.