Disordered Eating, Eating Disordered...what's the diff?

[cadringiel]

I think the line between the two is very thin and fuzzy. Technically, you could view the difference as clinical, what is defined as a serious eating disorder as opposed to what is EDNOS, disordered eating. It seems that, according to society, the only difference is whether or not you're actually at a healthy weight. If you're severely overweight, disordered eating is seen as a positive change, whereas if you're a healthy weight it's seen as a problem.

[amarie813]

(continued) "Forgetting to eat" always sounded like an unhealthy concept to me as well -- I understand that it's on the other side of the spectrum from being addicted to food, but it seems like just another version of not listening to your body's hunger signals. I may forget to eat if it was just a passing craving, but if my body truly needs food, there is no "forgetting" the hunger I feel.

[iamadumpling]

i think when she meant forgetting to eat she meant that your not thinking..hmm what shall i have for lunch, you just eat when your hungry whatever the time of day may be. i dont think she meant starving herself, because if your starving usually all you think of is food untill you do eat.

[amarie813]

I've lost over 100 lbs, but gained some back because I haven't been mindful of my eating. I think you've made an assumption by saying you're "normal" if you don't think about what you eat. Many of us either don't have a natural understanding of "eating well", or we've been trained out of it - so for an obese person like me, eating without being consciously mindful of the calories being taken in leads to overindulgence & weight gain. Others, however, can overindulge & never have a problem. (cont)

[angelaskathryn89]

you cant forget to eat if your passion in life is a dancer. im a dancer, i dance from 9-6 five days a week, always infront of mirrors, i know i should eat very very well and fuel my body well, i am after all an athlete, but when i also know that losing weight will make me a better dancer, and it does, well weight and food never leave the brain. i want to leave my ed, but i need to dance, im stuck

[kriccistarr]

i am obese and Ive had it this time last yr i weighted about 40 lbs less than i am now and Ive began the diet that yielded me the initial success that is basically eating on like plain iceberg lettuce cherry tomatoes frozen grapes and all the black coffee i want but my family is worried it will get out of hand they don't like me when I'm on diets like this and Ive also began using laxatives in excess can someone tell me what is this if anything and why its supposedly so wrong.

[iamadumpling]

umm, laxatives unless your constipated are unnecessary. if you are eating what you claim to be eating then why would you take laxatives. eating only those foods is not the best idea because those foods dont have all the nutrients your body needs. eating healthy is fine but make sure your getting enough calories or your metabolism could slow down and then you will have more trouble losing the weight. good luck if you need help message me~erica

[johne18]

I think that there is a big difference on the two categories. eating disorders versus disordered eating. I saw on another video that an eating disorder takes over your life and you have no control over it.

[light0and0shadow]

I'm obese & started a food log last year (which helped me realize how many calories I was eating before w/o realizing it, like the 900-calorie muffin--Yikes!), but I can see how it can also lead to obsessiveness. When I started out, I was "diet buddies" with a friend who weighed more than I & she told me she was "anorexic" (in reality obese). I thought she was delusional...until I saw how she ate. It was always one extreme or the other--fasting for days or binging.

[Fayerox]

you are soo right. Like me and my mom we have been doing weight watchers and like you said counting points and measuring everything. I dont struggle with anorexia per se, but it's basically the same thing. I have seen my mom lose over 50 lbs and now she looks anorexic and is still not happy with her weight. It's just weird. But I like the way you put it. Eating disorders/ disordered eating is just the same thing. There is still the obsession factor.

[lolagirl1111]

I actually think a lot of America's eating habits have a great deal to do with our society's culture or lack there of. For example, take the Europeans where they take a step back and truly enjoy life. Food there is a time to enjoy and spend with family. The foods they eat are made with real natural ingredients no preservatives or chemicals.

I think the key to "normal eating" is living a healthy lifestyle, which begins with gratitude and joy for life.

[laurenlovesleela]

My bmi changes from 25 to 18 on a regular basis. I'm unhappy with being chubby, so I diet. I try to keep going until I'm satisfied with how I look, but I never am, so I give up and gain the weight back only to realize I'm unhappy being chubby and lose the weight again. At least for me, there is no line between dieting and disordered eating.

I'm going to try what you said, being passionate about something that makes me happy. Who knows, you could change my life.

[coffeeluvr74]

You are absolutely correct. There is no line. There may have been at some point, but not in todays society. I know several women on weight watchers who are just as obsessed with food and calories and weight as I am.

[emilyohemily]

I completely agree. I struggled with an eating disorder (EDNOS, because I would restrict calories and purge anything I ate, but never became 'emaciated') and I now work in a women's weight loss retreat. The women that come to my work have the SAME mindset I once had, and it's no less heartbreaking. The mind struggle is very similar whether one is underweight or obese.

[psychd4u]

i am currently doing a research proposal for a masters program. I am trying to come up with a program in schools to educate parents about eating disorders. Anyone have any information on educating parents of preadolescent boys about eating disorders? any suggestions?

[titalita10003]

you are really an inspiration. sometimes i don't want to get better because i don't see a future me, living life without an ED. then i see you and you are doing something you love and are passionate about and it motivates me to do the same. THANK YOU!

[Kperry9]

Oh my gosh..i get it and i totally understand..i used to go to weight watchers in my early teens..it helped me to create the obsession that eventually became my eating disorder..in my opinion,the women you're talking about exhibit the exact same behavior..the only difference is that they belong to a label that pushes the image of 'health' not 'disordered eating', healthy eating is when you're totally relaxed about food..not when you're spending every minute counting calories and exercise minutes

[ShanzeeeGirl]

I'd say 'watching your weight' doesn't automatically make you disordered. I think that when it crosses the line of lacking control, taking up extreme amounts of time or doing bizarre behaviors (chew/spit), that's when it becomes disordered. I guess that's why there is ED-NOS (probably 1/2 of American women could fit in that category!)

It took me 4 years of nutrition counseling (plus 2 hospitalizations) to even learn how to eat normally. Now I'm one of the most healthy and natural eaters I know.