Disordered Eating

What Is Disordered Eating?

According to a 2011 study, eating disorders affect at least 9% of the world population, but it’s not yet known how many are suffering from disordered eating. Disordered eating occurs when someone practices irregular eating behaviors that may or may not require a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder. However, if you or someone you know is experiencing an eating disorder or disordered eating, it’s crucial to seek therapy in San Diego.

 

Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorders

Many people find themselves confused when it comes to disordered eating and eating disorders. As mentioned above, they’re not exactly one in the same, and there are some distinct differences. Disordered eating is more of a descriptive phrase than a diagnosis. However, it’s possibly more common than eating disorders because there is no formal diagnosis, so it’s challenging to track. Instead, it falls within a spectrum between normal eating and eating disorders. While it’s still very dangerous, it may happen less often and isn’t considered as severe. 


On the other hand, eating disorders are severe and life-threatening psychological conditions. An individual with an eating disorder has unhealthy eating habits due to their obsession with body shape, weight, or food.

 

Common Types of Eating Disorders

There are five common eating disorders, which include the following conditions:

  • Anorexia Nervosa: This condition is the most common and involves someone significantly restricting the amount of food they consume. They may also have an abnormal body weight, an extreme fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight. 

  • Bulimia Nervosa: Someone with bulimia will eat large amounts of food in a specific period of time and then purge the food later to get rid of the extra calories. 

  • Binge Eating Disorder: An individual with this condition will eat a large quantity of food during a short window of time. They don’t restrict their calories or purge what they ate later, but it’s challenging for someone with this disorder to control or stop eating once they start. 

  • Pica: Someone with this eating disorder eats things that are not considered food, like chalk, hair, or laundry detergent.  

  • Rumination Disorder: An individual with this condition brings food back up from their stomach and then either re-chews it, re-swallows it, or spits it out.

 

Symptoms of Disordered Eating

So, how can someone tell the difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder? An individual with disordered eating may do the following: 

  • Follow fad diets

  • Misuse supplements

  • Skip some meals

  • Do cleanses frequently

  • Focus on their appearance 

  • Use diet pills

  • Occasionally overeating or undereating 

If any of these symptoms are familiar to you, you may want to consider therapy in San Diego. 

 

What Can You Do About Disordered Eating or Eating Disorders?

The first thing someone should do if they notice behaviors that signal either disordered eating or an eating disorder is to contact a physician. They’ll be able to evaluate your situation and will likely then refer you to a therapist. The type of treatment you receive ultimately depends on your symptoms and condition, but it often involves a mix of psychotherapy, nutrition counseling, and medications. 

Psychotherapy is incredibly helpful because a licensed therapist, like the ones at Perlman Wellness, will give you techniques to lessen or eliminate harmful behaviors. Nutritional counseling is advantageous because many people aren’t sure what’s healthy and what’s not when it comes to food. A dietician will be able to teach you about appropriate nutrition and eating habits. Lastly, medications such as mood stabilizers or antidepressants may be suggested as additional ways to cope with your disordered eating or eating disorder. This is especially common if you’re dealing with another condition on top of your eating disorder, like anxiety or depression. 

 

Consider Therapy in San Diego for Disordered Eating

At Perlman Wellness, we work with a team of licensed therapists who are 100% virtual, which means you can get therapy from the comforts of your couch. They’re experienced in using a variety of techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy and narrative therapy to help you regain self-acceptance and strategies for your condition. So go ahead and schedule an appointment today to learn how we can assist you with disordered eating or an eating disorder in San Diego.