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This article contains content related to disordered eating and diet behavior.

If a friend opens up to you and reveals that she has been restricting her food intake severely in an effort to lose weight, is this behavior a sign of an eating disorder or disordered eating? What about a family member who seems obsessed with clean eating and refers to anything with sugar in it as toxic? Eating disorders and disordered eating are two terms that sound extremely similar, and while they do have some commonalities, there are important distinctions that set them apart.

Eating disorders are collectively one of the most deadly mental health conditions, second only to opioid overdose. Whats more, 9% of the U.S. population will develop an eating disorder in their lifetime, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). Meanwhile, statistics around the number of people living with disordered eating are more sparse because the behaviors are often not diagnosed or as obvious as those associated with an eating disorder. However, a 2008 survey sponsored by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill found as many as 6% of U.S. women between the ages of 25 and 45 exhibit disordered eating behaviors.

Eating disorders and disordered eating can have serious consequences, which is why its important to know the signs of both, as well as who is most at risk. If you or someone you know is engaging in harmful eating habits, help is available.

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Disordered eating is when a person engages in a rigid food or exercise routine and becomes upset if theyre unable to engage in their routine, explains Melissa Geraghty, Psy.D. a clinical health psychologist who specializes in eating disorders. While these behaviors may be dangerous, they may not meet the set diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.

Disordered eating is often fueled by a focused concern with body shape and weight, says Jamie Long, Psy.D, a clinical psychologist who specializes in eating disorders. It may also manifest as a way to cope with emotional distress, she adds.

Additionally, these types of behaviors can be (but arent always) a precursor to an eating disorder, which is a diagnosable condition.

Both Dr. Geraghty and Dr. Long say the main difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder is that an eating disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition with set criteria and is more extreme in nature. Disordered eating, on the other hand, doesnt have set diagnostic criteria and the symptoms are often not as extreme. With that said, disordered eating should still be taken seriously.

Severity, degree, number of symptoms and frequency of symptoms is what distinguishes eating disorders from disordered eating, adds Dr. Geraghty. Also, in my experience, people engaging in disordered eating dont typically engage in behaviors like purging, using excessive laxatives and working out excessively even when sick and injured, she says.

Another hallmark of disordered eating specifically is that many times, it can start from a desire to be healthier that slowly becomes more rigid in nature, explains Dr. Long. An individual engaging in disordered eating behaviors may become obsessed with clean eating and use extreme language to describe certain foods, such as toxic or poisonous.

For some individuals, disordered eating can eventually turn into a diagnosable eating disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), there are eight types of eating disorders.

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Disordered eating can affect anyone at any age in any body. People who diet, girls and women, boys and men, people of color, individuals who identify as LGBTQ and veterans are all at risk for engaging in disordered eating behavior, according to Dr. Long.

However, diagnosis and treatment may not look the same for all people affected by disordered eating. For instance, a 2020 report by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests people of color are half as likely to be diagnosed with or receive treatment for an eating disorder than white people.

Meanwhile, a 2019 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health found 60% of college students who identify as members of the LGBTQ community reported engaging in disordered eating behaviors.

Chronic dieters, regardless of their body size, can be at risk for disordered eating because of the cultural pressure they may feel to lose weight, continues Dr. Long. Dieting hurts our health, and as a culture, we need to shift our focus from weight loss behaviors to health-promoting behaviors, she says.

In order to know if you or someone you care about is engaging in disordered eating behavior, its important to understand what it looks like. Some common signs of disordered eating include:

Disordered eating can lead to serious consequences and may put someone at risk for developing a range of health problems. Some of these health risks include:

If youre struggling with disordered eating, its important to seek help. Look for a therapist who specializes in disordered eating or eating disorders, advises Dr. Long. For help finding a specialist in your area (or someone whom you can meet virtually), consider contacting the National Eating Disorder Association by phone, text or online chat.

It may also be beneficial to work with a registered dietitian who specializes in disordered eating, adds Dr. Long. The role of the dietitian is to make sure an individual is getting proper nutrients while behavior changes are being made. Eating Disorder Registered Dietitians & Professionals (EDRDPRO) is one helpful resource for finding a dietitian with this particular expertise.

The good news is that help for disordered eating is readily available if sought out, and youre never alone in your journey toward mental and physical wellness.

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Disordered Eating: Causes, Warnings Signs And How To Seek Help - Forbes