Written By: Kristy Maskell, MSc, RD
Reviewed By: Aoife McMahon, RD
Eating disorders and disordered eating are about more than food. They’re deeply tied to emotions, mental health, and self-perception, making food feel like the enemy. But healing is possible. You can find peace with food, nourish your body without fear, and regain the freedom to eat intuitively.
If you feel out of control around food, struggle with intrusive thoughts about eating, experience guilt after meals, or feel anxious about certain foods, this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through the different types of eating disorders, their emotional roots, the distinction between disordered eating vs eating disorders, and the eating disorder treatment options available to help you heal.
Table of Contents
What does it mean to have an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that stem from an unhealthy relationship with food [1]. They come in many distinct forms but often involve a deep disconnection from natural hunger and fullness cues, overwhelming emotions tied to eating, and rigid food rules that can create distress and take over your life.
For all eating disorder types, recovery is not just about eating differently. Treatment for eating disorders is about healing your relationship with food, finding peace, and learning to nourish your body without anxiety or restriction
What are the types of eating disorders?
Eating disorders can show up in different ways, but many share emotional themes like control, anxiety, and self-worth. Below are some of the most common eating disorder types, each with its own challenges and recovery journey.
Anorexia or restrictive eating disorder
Anorexia nervosa often involves extreme food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. But it’s not just about the number on the scales – many people with anorexia describe feeling overwhelmed by anxiety and using food control as a way to cope.
Recovery from restrictive eating disorder could mean restoring trust in your body and learning that food is not the enemy. Many clients find that with time, meals can bring joy rather than fear.
Binge eating disorder
Binge eating disorder involves eating large amounts of food in a short time, often in secret. People can feel powerless during these episodes and unable to stop eating, even if they want to. This loss of control can lead to intense guilt, shame, and distress.
Treatment for binge eating disorder may involve recognising emotional triggers and practising mindful eating. By improving your food relationship, a future where food no longer controls you is possible.
Bulimia and compensatory behaviours
Compensatory disorders like bulimia involve cycles of binging followed by purging behaviours (like vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use) to “undo” eating. For many, this exhausting pattern feels impossible to break, leaving them physically and emotionally drained.
Recovery may focus on interrupting the cycle, improving emotional regulation, and finding ways to nourish the body without punishment. It’s about learning to eat without fear and trust your body again.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
Unlike many other eating disorder types, ARFID isn’t about body image. It’s a heightened fear or anxiety response to food, which can make food overwhelming.
Some people struggle with certain textures, smells, tastes or even appearances, while others may avoid food due to past traumatic experiences or an intense fear of choking. It’s not just about being “picky” – it’s an altered sensory experience of food and the whole eating environment.
Treatment for ARFID may involve gradually introducing new foods while addressing underlying fears. Over time, recovery can mean feeling safe around food again and enjoying meals without worry.
Orthorexia eating disorder
Orthorexia is a fixation with eating “clean” or “healthy” foods. What may start as a desire for health can lead to strict food rules and an all-consuming anxiety about eating the “wrong” thing.
Orthorexia eating disorder treatment could include challenging rigid food beliefs, embracing balance, and rediscovering the simple joy of eating. Many clients find that with time, they can enjoy all foods without stress, allowing flexibility and freedom to replace obsession.
Disordered eating vs eating disorder: What’s the difference?
There’s a difference between disordered eating vs eating disorders, but the line isn’t always clear-cut. Many of the above eating disorder types – like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and ARFID – are all diagnosable mental health conditions with specific criteria.
Disordered eating is slightly different, referring to unhealthy eating behaviours that don’t meet the full clinical criteria for a diagnosis from a doctor, psychologist, or skilled healthcare professional [2]. However, these harmful eating habits can still have a big impact on your well-being.
Examples of disordered eating behaviours might include:
- Emotional eating
- Skipping meals
- Restrictive dieting
- Occasional binge eating
Orthorexia is a good example of this blurred line between disordered eating and eating disorders. It controversially isn’t officially recognised as an eating disorder in diagnostic guidelines, but it’s still a serious and distressing condition that can take a real toll on your life [3].
Both eating disorders and disordered eating deserve care and support. Whether you have a formal diagnosis or not, if food causes stress, anxiety, or guilt, or if your eating patterns feel out of control, you are worthy of help. It doesn’t matter what label applies.
What causes eating disorders?
There is no single cause for any of the types of eating disorders [4]. They’re all complex mental health conditions influenced by a mix of factors, including:
- Emotional factors: Anxiety, depression, trauma, and low self-esteem can contribute to disordered eating. Many people use food (or the control of it) as a coping mechanism for overwhelming emotions.
- Societal pressures: Diet culture, unrealistic beauty standards, and social media portrayals of “ideal” bodies are linked to eating disorders. The pressure to look a certain way or eat a certain way can be all-consuming, and for some, it can fuel disordered eating.
- Biology: Genetics can increase vulnerability to disordered eating. For example, eating disorders and autism or ADHD are often linked [5-6], with many neurodivergent people experiencing sensory sensitivities, rigid eating patterns, and emotional regulation difficulties.
Importantly, eating disorders are not a choice. They are serious, complex mental health conditions that can be deeply distressing for those suffering with them and deserve compassionate, expert support.
Who gets eating disorders?
Certain groups are at higher risk of eating disorders, including women, teenagers, young adults, and LGBTQ+ individuals [7-8]. However, eating disorders can affect anyone. They don’t have a “look,” and they don’t discriminate. The stereotype of a thin teenage girl with anorexia is just that: a stereotype.
Not only is it inaccurate – men, older adults, and people in larger bodies can all struggle with types of eating disorders – but it is also harmful. It leaves many people struggling in silence and delaying care because they don’t feel like they “fit” the image of an eating disorder [9]. LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodivergent people, and those from marginalised backgrounds may also face additional barriers to seeking support.
But every experience with food-related distress matters, and seeking help is always valid. No matter who you are, how old you are, what gender you are, or what body you live in, your struggle is real, and you deserve care.
What is the treatment for eating disorders?
Eating disorder recovery isn’t just about food. It’s about physically and emotionally healing to find peace and rebuild your food relationship.
Eating disorder nutrition support
If you’re struggling with food, working with an eating disorder dietitian can be life-changing. Unlike generic nutrition advice that often focuses on weight loss or rigid meal plans, an ED-trained dietitian can help you heal your relationship with food so you can eat without fear, guilt, or shame. An eating disorder dietitian may support you in:
- Rebuilding trust with your body: Over time, rules around food can drown out your body’s natural signals. Dietitians help you reconnect with hunger and fullness cues, guiding you toward a more natural, flexible way of intuitive eating.
- Letting go of food guilt: Rather than labelling foods as “good” or “bad,” eating disorder nutrition support emphasises balance. Every food has a place. As you learn to make food choices based on what feels good for your body, you may start to find joy in eating again.
- Personalised support: Recovery looks different for everyone. Whether you need help challenging food rules, easing anxiety around meals, or simply figuring out what works best for you, an eating disorder dietitian can tailor their approach to you.
Therapy for eating disorder recovery
Psychological therapy is often essential in recovery for all types of eating disorders, helping to shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviours around food. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can reframe deep-rooted beliefs around food and body image, while dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) provides coping strategies for emotional regulation.
For many, therapy also makes space for more intuitive eating. As food becomes less of a battleground, you can tune into what your body truly needs, without second-guessing every choice.
The role of medication in eating disorder treatment
In some cases, medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety prescriptions may be used alongside nutritional and psychological support. These drugs can help manage coexisting mental health conditions that might be tied to your eating disorder.
Recently, GLP-1 weight loss drugs (known as “skinny jabs”) have also been discussed in the treatment for binge eating disorder and bulimia. While they may reduce binge urges, this is only temporary; they fail to address the emotional aspect of these eating disorder types [10].
True and sustainable eating disorder recovery comes from forming a healthy food relationship, not relying on drugs to suppress appetite.
Finding food freedom, one step at a time
A peaceful relationship with food isn’t just for others – it’s for you, too. If you feel trapped in cycles of restriction, bingeing, purging, or overwhelming stress around food, you don’t have to stay stuck. Support is here, and food freedom is possible.
At Fresh Approach Nutrition, our eating disorder nutrition clinic offers a warm, judgment-free space where you can explore a healthier, more intuitive way of eating. Our specialist dietitians, Aoife McMahon and Christine Phelan, are here to listen, guide, and support you at your own pace. We can offer support for all eating disorder types and disordered eating.
If you’re ready to take the next step, book a free discovery call. No pressure – just a friendly chat to see if we’re the right fit for you on your eating disorder recovery journey.
References
- NICE. What is an eating disorder? | Information for the public | Eating disorders: recognition and treatment | Guidance | NICE [Internet]. www.nice.org.uk. 2017. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng69/ifp/chapter/What-is-an-eating-disorder
- NICE. When should I suspect an eating disorder? Clinical Knowledge Summaries | NICE [Internet]. cks.nice.org.uk. 2019. Available from: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/eating-disorders/diagnosis/clinical-features/
- Horovitz O, Marios Argyrides. Orthorexia and Orthorexia Nervosa: A Comprehensive Examination of Prevalence, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Nutrients. 2023 Sep 3;15(17):3851–1. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10490497/
- Barakat S, McLean SA, Bryant E, Le A, Marks P, Touyz S, et al. Risk Factors for Eating disorders: Findings from a Rapid Review. Journal of Eating Disorders [Internet]. 2023 Jan 17;11(1):1–31. Available from: https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-022-00717-4
- Carpita B, Muti D, Cremone IM, Fagiolini A, Dell’Osso L. Eating disorders and autism spectrum: links and risks. CNS Spectrums. 2020 Nov 9;27(3):1–9. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33161925/
- El Archi S, Cortese S, Ballon N, Réveillère C, De Luca A, Barrault S, et al. Negative Affectivity and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators between ADHD and Disordered Eating: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 27;12(11):3292. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33121125/
- Ward ZJ, Rodriguez P, Wright DR, Austin SB, Long MW. Estimation of Eating Disorders Prevalence by Age and Associations With Mortality in a Simulated Nationally Representative US Cohort. JAMA Network Open [Internet]. 2019 Oct 9;2(10):e1912925. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2752577
- Parker LL, Harriger JA. Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature. Journal of Eating Disorders [Internet]. 2020 Oct 16;8(1). Available from: https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-020-00327-y
- Hamilton A, Mitchison D, Basten C, Byrne S, Goldstein M, Hay P, et al. Understanding treatment delay: Perceived barriers preventing treatment-seeking for eating disorders. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2021 Jul 12;56(3):000486742110201. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34250844/
- Aoun L, Shaza Al Mardini, Saliba F, Haddadin F, Mourad O, Jdaidani J, et al. GLP-1 receptor agonists: A novel pharmacotherapy for binge eating (Binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa)? A systematic review. Journal of Clinical & Translational Endocrinology [Internet]. 2024 Feb 1;100333–3. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10915596/
