What Is an Eating Disorder?

Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options.

An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition that affects both the body and mind. It often involves a complex relationship with food, body image, and control, where thoughts revolve around what you eat, how you look, and feelings of self-criticism.

Eating disorders can appear in different forms, such as restrictive eating, binge eating, purging behaviors like over-exercising, or a fixation on “clean” or “healthy” eating. Although it can feel overwhelming, help is available. With the right support and treatment, it is possible to rebuild a healthier relationship with food and with yourself.

Common Symptoms of Eating Disorders.

Eating disorders impact both physical and emotional well-being. Here are some of the most common signs:

Behavioral symptoms:

• Restrictive eating – Eating very small portions or cutting out entire food groups.
• Binge eating – Consuming large amounts of food in a short period, often followed by shame or guilt.
• Purging behaviors – Compensating through vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise.
• Food and weight obsession – Constant thoughts about calories, meal planning, and body image.

Physical and emotional symptoms:

• Sleep issues and fatigue – The body lacks the energy it needs to recover and function.
• Social withdrawal – Avoiding meals with others or isolating from social settings.
• Anxiety and stress – Using food control to cope with overwhelming emotions.

If these symptoms interfere with your daily life, it’s important to seek help.

What Causes Eating Disorders?

There’s rarely a single cause. Eating disorders often stem from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

1. Trauma and Stress.

Past traumatic experiences may lead to food and body control as a coping mechanism. Major life changes and chronic stress can also trigger or worsen disordered eating.

2. Low Self-Esteem.

A negative self-image can create feelings of inadequacy and a need for control. Food and weight may become ways to seek self-worth or acceptance.

3. Perfectionism.

Setting unrealistic standards for oneself can result in rigid eating habits. An obsession with being “perfect” in diet or exercise can become compulsive.

4. Anxiety and Mental Health.

Many people with eating disorders also experience anxiety or depression. Controlling food intake may feel like a way to manage fear or uncertainty.

Understanding these root causes is a key step toward breaking harmful patterns and finding balance.

Types of Eating Disorders.

Eating disorders affect people in different ways. Here are the most common types:

Anorexia Nervosa.

• Extreme food restriction and intense fear of weight gain.
• Distorted body image, seeing oneself as larger than they are.
• May result in severe malnutrition and medical complications.

Bulimia Nervosa.

• Cycles of binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise).
• Feelings of guilt and shame after binge episodes.
• Often goes unnoticed due to normal or fluctuating body weight.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED).

• Eating large amounts of food in a short time without purging
• Often followed by guilt, shame, or emotional distress
• More common than anorexia and bulimia, but less frequently recognized

Orthorexia Nervosa.

• An unhealthy obsession with “clean” or “healthy” eating.
• May lead to nutritional deficiencies or social isolation.
• Not yet a formal diagnosis, but can still have serious consequences.

How to Cope with an Eating Disorder.

Breaking free from disordered eating patterns can feel overwhelming, but change is possible, and there are strategies that can help you move forward.

1. Reach Out for Support.

Talk to someone you trust, a friend, family member, or therapist. Sharing your thoughts and emotions can ease the burden and reduce feelings of isolation.

2. Challenge Negative Thoughts.

Work on recognizing and shifting self-critical thoughts about your body and food. A therapist can provide tools to build self-worth and a more compassionate inner voice.

3. Create Healthy Habits.

Find joy in activities that aren’t tied to appearance or performance, like art, music, or spending time in nature. Focus on balance and recovery rather than rigid control or perfection.

4. Take It One Step at a Time.

Change doesn’t happen overnight and that’s okay. Small steps, taken consistently, can lead to meaningful transformation in the long run.

When Should You Seek Help?

If thoughts around food and weight begin to take over your daily life, it’s important to seek professional support. A therapist with experience in eating disorders can help you:

• Build a healthier relationship with food and your body
• Identify and reframe harmful thought patterns
• Address underlying causes like trauma or low self-esteem

Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a courageous first step toward healing.

How Therapy Can Help with an Eating Disorder.

Therapy is one of the most effective ways to break destructive patterns and build a healthier relationship with food, body image, and emotional well-being. It helps you understand why the disorder developed and gives you the tools to move forward in a sustainable and healing way.

Common types of therapy for eating disorders:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors around eating and body image.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Teaches you to accept difficult emotions without acting on them in harmful ways.
• Psychodynamic Therapy (PDT): Explores deeper emotional roots such as unresolved trauma or identity issues.

Therapy Test – Could Therapy Help You?

Not sure if therapy is right for you? You’re not alone. Many people wonder whether talking to someone could make a real difference, especially if they’ve never tried therapy before.

Our self-assessment can help you explore whether therapy might be a useful tool for you. By answering a few questions, you’ll gain a better understanding of how therapy could support your personal challenges.

Take the therapy test here.