Eating Disorders vs Disordered Eating: Getting the Support You Need

In school to become a dietitian, I was struggling massively in my relationship with food.

Weekly binge episodes that felt like an addict getting their fix - lying, stealing and hiding so I could eat, then crying and feeling depressed for days after.

Intense anxiety in any situation that was off my “usual routine” with food - holidays, parties, restaurant meals.

I distinctly remember one day, sitting in lecture and learning about eating disorders.

The words “Anorexia Nervosa” plastered across the big projector in front of class.

Pictured was an emaciated woman standing in front of a mirror that reflected a larger bodied lady back at her.

I resonated with all the big 3 eating disorders, but not fully.

I had the extreme fear of weight gain of anorexia, but I was never clinically under weight.

I had at times fasted, exercised more, or used laxatives after a binge - but not frequently enough to be classified as bulimic.

I struggled with the binge eating episodes described in binge eating disorder - but I DID compensate sometimes after a binge.

“So”, I reasoned, “I don’t have any eating disorder. It must really just be a will power issue then.”

And I went back on my not-so-merry way, reading articles from my favorite fitpros every night with advice on how to stick to your plan with food to reach your physique goals.

If you can relate, I want you to know these 3 things:

➡️ Relationship with food is a spectrum from normal, healthy eating to a full blown eating disorder.

➡️ “Disordered eating” has serious mental and physical health consequences and requires specific solutions to heal from (hint: not general advice from fit pros or wellness influencers).

➡️ The vast majority of disordered eating involves food restriction, and you can be unhealthily restricting food while still being at a “healthy weight”.

The sooner you take your issues seriously, the sooner you can be free from them.

This episode of The Binge Eating Dietitian Podcast unpacks eating disorders vs disordered eating and gives you resources for healing!

Learn more about my group program + book a free discovery call: bit.ly/normaleater

Contact me:

DM me on Instagram @elenakunickird     

Email me at elena@elenakunicki.com

Eating Disorder Helplines:

Australia 

• The Butterfly Foundation: Phone: 1800 334 673 | Email: support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au

• InsideOut Institute: Phone: (02) 8627 5690 | Email: admin@insideoutinstitute.org.au  

• Eating Disorders Victoria: Phone: 1300 550 236 | Email: hub@eatingdisorders.org.au 

• Eating Disorders Queensland: Phone: (07) 3844 6055 

• Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders: Phone (AU): +61 491 134 289 | Phone (NZ): +64 9 887 0552 | Email: anzaed@anzaed.org.au 

New Zealand

• Canopy Eating Disorder Support Services: Email: info@canopyeds.co.nz 

• EDANZ: Phone: 0800 233 269 | Email: info@ed.org.nz 

United States

• National Eating Disorders Association: Phone: 1-800-931-2237 | Email: info@nationaleatingdisorders.org 

• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders: Phone: 1-888-375-7767 | Email: hello@