Eating Disorders And Eating Habits: Food Habits & Disordered Eating

Eating disorders are mental health conditions that typically involve problematic behaviors around the consumption and processing of food. Eating disorders are often associated with body image concerns, but they can also be complex mental illnesses that involve a variety of factors. Understanding more about how certain eating habits and behaviors can be associated with eating disorders may help people who are experiencing these conditions to seek mental health support. 

Types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and others

Common eating disorders typically include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Less common eating disorders include pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa, typically referred to as anorexia, is an eating disorder in which a person develops a severe fear of weight gain and engages in unhealthy eating behaviors to promote weight loss, like restricting food intake. People with anorexia may have an extreme fixation on body weight and a warped sense of body image, in which they continually view themselves as overweight no matter how much weight they lose. Anorexia symptoms can overlap with other mental disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder. 

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa, usually shortened to bulimia, is an eating disorder focused on two specific eating habits: binging and purging. The habit of binging involves eating a large amount of food in a short period of time, while purging involves engaging in compensatory behaviors like forcing oneself to vomit or using laxatives. People with bulimia can often experience severe gastrointestinal disturbances from the extreme digestive cycling. 

Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia in that it involves binge eating, but not purging. People with binge eating disorder may binge eat as a maladaptive coping mechanism to process negative emotions. They may also experience significant weight gain and associated health problems, like cardiovascular issues and hypertension. 

Other types of eating disorders

Other eating disorders that may be less well known include avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and pica. ARFID typically involves habits of avoiding specific types of foods, often based on an aversion to their smell, texture, or taste, to the point where a person’s ability to nourish themselves can be compromised. ARFID eating disorders are often associated with young children, though it can occur in any population. 

Pica, like ARFID, is an eating disorder not usually linked to weight or body image concerns. A person with the eating disorder pica typically consumes non-food objects like wood, hair, or fabric. Pica can lead to health complications and, in severe situations, stomach blockages. 

The relationship between eating disorders and eating habits

Moving away from healthy eating habits toward problematic eating behaviors can be the first sign a person is developing an eating disorder. These habits can include using weight loss “hacks,” skipping meals or refusing to eat at meals, regularly overeating, and using food consumption or restriction as a way to process negative emotions.

Cycles of self-reinforcing eating disorders and eating habits

How food choices can impact weight management

The relationship between food and weight can be complex even for people without eating disorders, especially in a society that places a high value on thinness. For people with eating disorders, relationships with food and weight can be exceptionally complicated. 

Connections between food, weight, and health

What is considered “healthy eating” may vary from person to person, as can the concept of a “healthy weight.” When making food choices to promote health or to maintain a certain weight range, it may be most helpful to consult with a doctor or nutritionist. Professional opinions on these subjects can be especially important for people with eating disorders or a history of disordered eating habits, who may have incorrectly fixated on certain foods as “dangerous” or “problematic.”

Mental health support for people with eating disorders

People with eating disorders usually require professional mental health support to sustain their eating disorder recovery. Connecting with a therapist to process negative self-talk, distorted thought patterns, and other aspects of eating disorders can help to mitigate symptoms. 

Online therapy for people with eating disorders

Eating disorders are often associated with a pervasive sense of shame and guilt. If a person is deeply ashamed of their eating habits, they may find it difficult to connect with a therapist. In these situations, online therapy may be beneficial. Online therapy may help to create a sense of distance between a therapist and a patient, which may help the patient to more fully engage in therapy. With online therapy, individuals can communicate with their therapist through audio, video, or live chat at a time that works for them.

Research has indicated that online therapy may be similar in efficacy levels to traditional in-person therapy at addressing the symptoms of a wide range of mental health conditions, including eating disorders. One study examined the use of online therapeutic interventions on a group of patients with bulimia and found that symptom reduction was comparable to that seen in in-person therapy.