Eating disorders are complex and dangerous mental health disorders that rarely have to do with food or body image alone. Eating disorders often develop as a response to trauma and high levels of emotional distress, but they can also easily develop in the context of our diet and wellness obsessed culture. And even when a person does not meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder disordered eating behaviors are extremely common, mimic eating disorders closely, and can become just as dangerous. 

 

Common eating disordered and disordered eating behaviors:

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• Restricting food intake despite feeling hunger cues

• Binge eating

• Cycles of bingeing and purging, which can include induced vomiting, prolonged exercise, use of laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills, or restricting food 

• Repeatedly weighing or measuring yourself

• Obsessively tracking calories, macros, protein, etc.

• Feeling high levels of shame after eating

• Over-exercising

• Preoccupation with food

• Weight cycling or yo-yo dieting 

 

Negative body image and distorted perceptions of one's body can occur with or without eating disordered behaviors.

 

Negative body image can include: 

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• Constant self-criticism or shame about the shape, size, weight, or other features of your body

• Body checking behaviors such as obsessively evaluating your body in mirrors, windows, and other reflective surfaces throughout the day

• Avoidance of situations that draws attention to your body such as swimming or taking pictures

• Avoiding certain types of clothing 

• Believing your life would be better if your body was able to be altered 

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*Please note: I am a HAES (health at every size) provider. I closely follow the research that shows bodies can be healthy at any size/weight and I will not recommend weight loss as a point of intervention. ​