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Understanding The Spectrum: Disordered Eating Vs Eating Disorder

Written by Talia Cecchele, Highly Specialist Dietitian and TCN Founder


disordered eating or eating disorder

Disordered eating is on the rise and in many ways, it’s become normalised. Conversations around dieting, weight loss, “being good,” and GLP-1 medications are promoted everywhere.


Because of this, it can feel confusing to understand what the difference is between disordered eating versus a clinically diagnosed eating disorder.


And here’s the most important thing to remember as you read this: if your relationship with food is impacting your life in any way, that is enough of a reason to seek support.


You can listen to Talia discuss the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating on the Food Is Food podcast.



How Common Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are far more common than many people realise.

  • In the UK, it’s estimated that around 1.25 million people have a diagnosed eating disorder (with some statistics estimating 4 million people)

  • Research suggests that 15% of women will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime (Australian data from the Butterfly Foundation, but reflective of broader trends)


And that’s just diagnosed eating disorders.


When we include disordered eating behaviours — which are far more widespread — the number increases significantly.


It’s also important to challenge a common misconception: you cannot tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them.


In fact, the majority of people with eating disorders live in bodies that are considered “normal” or above average weight.



What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are diagnosed using criteria from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).


The main categories include:


Contrary to what most people think, OSFED accounts for around 50% of diagnoses, making it the most common eating disorder category (not AN, which accounts for <10%).


Eating disorders are often transdiagnostic, meaning there is significant overlap between them.


For example:

  • Fear of weight gain and restrictive behaviours can appear across many diagnoses

  • Binge eating can occur in both bulimia and binge eating disorder



What is Disordered Eating?

Unlike eating disorders, disordered eating has no formal diagnosis or agreed definition.


Disordered eating includes behaviours such as:

  • Restricting food intake or skipping meals

  • Cutting out food groups (e.g. carbs or fats)

  • Obsessive calorie counting or food tracking (check our blog for How to Stop Calorie Counting)

  • Avoiding social situations involving food

  • Rigid food rules or “clean eating”

  • Fasting or compensatory behaviours

  • Food preoccupation (spending a lot of time worrying about food intake)


Some of these behaviours might be approached in a normal context e.g. weighing pasta before cooking, however the key difference in understanding if it is disordered or a healthy behaviour is the intention behind the behaviour and the impact of these behaviours on a persons life. For example, being mindful of carbohydrate intake due to diabetes is different to avoiding them out of fear of weight gain.



Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorder: What’s The Difference?

Disordered eating and eating disorders sit on a spectrum of eating behaviours:

  • At one end: a flexible, natural, intuitive relationship with food

  • In between: disordered eating (with varying levels of severity)

  • At the other: a clinically diagnosed eating disorder


All eating disorders involve disordered eating — but not all disordered eating will meet criteria for an eating disorder. This depends on if the severity and frequency of behaviours in addition to the psychological impact to meet the DSM-5 criteria. However, both can have serious consequences.


Disordered eating is often seen as “not serious enough,” but it can:

  • Cause significant distress

  • Impact relationships, work, and daily life

  • Progress into a full eating disorder if left unaddressed


You can read more about the hidden complications of undereating here.



Why Does Someone Develop an Eating Disorder?

Relationship with food is complex and there is no one single reason why someone might develop disordered eating or an eating disorder. It is also important to note that eating disorders can impact anyone, regardless of age, body shape or size, race, gender or history.


One way of looking at how eating disorders develop is:


1. Predisposing factors

These are underlying vulnerabilities:

  • Biological: genetics, life stages (adolescence, pregnancy, menopause)

  • Psychological: perfectionism, anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma

  • Social/cultural: diet culture, pressure to look a certain way, bullying


2. Precipitating factors (triggers)

These are events that “activate” behaviours:

  • Dieting (one of the biggest risk factors)

  • Stress, loss, or major life changes

  • Comments about weight or appearance


3. Perpetuating factors (maintaining factors)

These are what keep the eating disorder going:

  • A sense of control or predictability

  • Numbing difficult emotions

  • Coping with stress or trauma

  • Feeling safe



When Should I Reach Out For Support?

If your relationship with food causes anxiety or distress, impacts your daily life in any way or feels rigid or controlling, that is enough of a reason to seek support. Eating concerns that fall short of an eating disorder diagnosis still deserve treatment as there is the risk that it might turn into a more problematic eating disorder.


Support options include:

  • Speaking to your GP

  • Working with a specialist eating disorder dietitian or psychologist

  • Accessing trusted resources and education (see out Free Resources List)



Need Dietetic Support?

If you need support in your recovery, we offer 1:1 nutrition counselling at the TCN Clinic to help you overcome food rules and build a more positive relationship with food. You can find out more about how we can support you here



Talia Cecchele

TCN Director and Lead Specialist Dietitian



REFERENCES:

Tanofsky-Kraff M & Yanovski S. Eating disorder or disordered eating? Non-normative eating patterns in obese individuals. Obesity. 2004 September, 12(9):1361-1366


Talia Cecchele Nutrition (TCN) is a virtual clinic with a team of registered dietitians specialising in eating disorders and disordered eating. Our services include 1:1 consultations, group meal support and group programs to support you to break free from food rules and chronic dieting and find food freedom. Talia and her team work by incorporating a compassion-led, non-diet and weight inclusive. To enquire about a private consultation please fill out a contact form.

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