Disordered Eating

Disordered eating refers to a range of irregular eating behaviours that can include, but aren’t limited to, restrictive eating, binge eating, or a preoccupation with food, body shape, and weight. These behaviours may not meet the clinical criteria for an eating disorder, yet they can significantly impact an individual's physical and emotional well-being. In the UK, it is estimated that around 1.6 million people experience disordered eating habits, with a notable rise among young adults and adolescents.

Symptoms of disordered eating can vary widely but often include skipping meals, emotional eating, severe dieting, or engaging in excessive exercise. Individuals may also experience anxiety, social withdrawal, or fluctuations in weight. Due to the often-subtle nature of disordered eating, and societal pressures and opinions around eating and body image, many may not seek help until their physical or emotional health deteriorates.

When disordered eating becomes severe enough to meet diagnostic criteria, the individual is said to have an eating disorder. The best known of these is anorexia nervosa, characterised by attempting to keep bodyweight as low as possible. However, other conditions including bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID (avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder, often associated with autism) are also types of eating disorder. All are serious mental health conditions which can often have serious physical health implications as well.

Treatment for disordered eating is multifaceted and tailored to the individual's needs. Approaches may include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), nutrition counselling, and support groups, such as Overeaters Anonymous. Medication may also be used to help treat symptoms of the condition, or target anxiety/depression which often co-occurs. New treatments such as psilocybin and ketamine are also being trialled and show promising potential for those with treatment resistant disordered eating.

Further information and resources

• NHS: Eating Disorders
• Beat Eating Disorders
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

Recommended books

• "Eating in the Light of the Moon" by Anita Johnston – Weaving together myths and tales from societies across the globe, Johnston explores how women’s  negative and damaging attitudes towards food have developed (this is also helpful for men), and introduces constructive tips and practices on how to improve them.
• "The Intuitive Eating Workbook" by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch – Taking the reader through the 10 principles of healthy eating, this workbook details a well-researched and tested model by which we can all improve our relationship with food and eating, and mind and body.
• "Body Positive Power" by Megan Jayne Crabbe – Crabbe experienced bad body image from a young age and spent years enduring eating disorders and disordered eating. This book promotes body positivity as a key to making peace with food and the body, with essays from other people who have also found the movement life-changing.

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