Understanding the distinction between disordered eating vs eating disorder is essential for athletes, parents, coaches, and providers. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they describe different levels of severity, and both deserve attention, compassion, and support. In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between the two, why disordered eating is dangerous even without a diagnosis, and how to get support for long-term health and performance.
Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorder: The Core Difference
All eating disorders involve disordered eating, but not all disordered eating meets the criteria for a clinical eating disorder.
A clinical diagnosis requires meeting specific criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses (DSM-5). However, just because someone does not have an eating disorder, it does not mean they are engaging in healthy eating behaviors, as there is a wide spectrum between healthy eating and an eating disorder.
Disordered eating falls somewhere along that spectrum. Many people fall somewhere in the middle, struggling with harmful eating behaviors that significantly affect their well-being, even if they don’t qualify for a diagnosis.
What Does Disordered Eating Look Like?
Disordered eating can include:
- Engaging in eating disorder–type behaviors without meeting clinical thresholds
(restriction, binging, purging, etc.) - Skipping meals
- Fasting or extreme “cleanses”
- Dysfunctional or punitive exercise
- Using diet pills or appetite suppressants
- Obsessing over food rules or “clean eating”
- Feeling out of control around food
These behaviors may appear “minor” at first, but they are far from harmless.
Why Disordered Eating Is So Often Overlooked
Disordered eating is dangerous and often overlooked for two reasons:
1. It hasn’t reached the severity of an eating disorder.
Someone’s disordered eating behaviors may be dismissed by a provider if there is not a clinical diagnosis of an eating disorder. Clients themselves will also often dismiss their own disordered eating behaviors as “not severe enough” or feel they are “not sick enough” to seek help or make changes.
“Not sick enough” is one of the most dangerous places to be, as it almost always leads to a worsened condition and a life consumed by disordered thoughts and behaviors.
If I had a dollar for every client who insisted they “weren’t sick enough,” I’d be retired by now.
And every single one deserved help long before they finally reached out.
2. Many disordered eating behaviors are normalized in our society.
With the resurgence of “Pro-Ana” (pro-anorexia) content on social media, as seen in the popularity of TikTok’s #SkinnyTok among everyone from young girls to middle age women, disordered eating behaviors are once again not only normalized, but praised and promoted.
We know that disordered eating is dangerous, but trends like this make it increasingly difficult for others to see the danger as well.
The Very Real Risks of Disordered Eating
While it may not carry a clinical label, disordered eating has serious consequences. It is one of the strongest predictors of eventually developing an eating disorder.
It can also:
- Strain relationships and social life
- Intensify mental health symptoms like anxiety, depression, and emotional rigidity
- Increase risk of nutrient deficiencies
- Impair athletic performance and recovery
- Consume an individual’s time, thoughts, and energy
Disordered eating, whether a diagnosed clinical eating disorder or not, often ends up consuming an individual’s entire life and every waking thought. Any amount of disordered is too much. No matter the severity, everyone deserves to have a healthy relationship with their body and their food.
Become a Certified REDS Informed Provider
If you work with athletes, especially those dealing with disordered eating or eating disorders, and want to deepen your expertise, the REDS Informed Provider Certification Program® offers comprehensive training to help you:
- Identify REDs early
- Use athlete screening tools with confidence
- Communicate effectively with athletes and parents
- Coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams
- Provide athlete-centered nutrition support
- Guide long-term recovery and performance
Join the next LIVE cohort of the REDS Informed Provider Certification Program® today!
If you’re an athlete looking for support, explore the directory of REDS-informed providers who have completed the certification and are ready to help.