Disordered eating is a term that describes a distorted or unhealthy pattern of eating, such as highly restrictive dieting, skipping meals and excessive fasting, compulsive eating, or rigid and inflexible eating patterns. A person who has disordered patterns of eating does not necessarily have a diagnosable eating disorder such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge Eating Disorder. They are, however, at greater risk of experiencing these illnesses than people who have normal eating patterns. In fact, the research tells us that disordered eating and dieting are some of the strongest risk factors for the development of future clinical eating disorders. Disordered eating is, unfortunately, quite common in Australia, with almost a third of Aussie adolescents engaging in some form of disordered eating over the course of a year.
What are the Risks of Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating can have a range of negative impacts on our physical and mental health including:
- Reduced ability to cope with stressful situations
- Feelings of shame or guilt if a diet pattern is ‘broken’
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Reduced self-esteem
- Weight gain
- Poor sleep and fatigue
- Osteoporosis
- Headaches
- Muscle cramps
- Development of a clinical eating disorder (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Other Specified Eating and Feeding Disorders (OSFED))
What Can I Do If I Think I Have Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating carries significant risks for a person’s ongoing physical and mental health. Because of this, it is important that help is sought as early as possible. However, even if you or someone you love has been struggling with disordered eating for a long time, it is important to know that eating behaviour can change with the right care and treatment.
If you are concerned that you or someone you love may be experiencing disordered eating it is important to seek support and treatment from qualified professionals. Your GP is a great first port of call in connecting you with the services and assistance you will need to start your journey.
You can also reach out to Butterfly’s National Helpline for information, resources, and help with referral (1800 33 4673), or you can check out the National Eating Disorders Collaboration website to learn more about disordered eating (https://nedc.com.au/). You can also have a look at the National Eating Disorders Collaboration’s Service Locator, which will guide you to services that support people with disordered eating in your local area (https://nedc.com.au/support-and-services/service-locator).
