What Are Eating Disorders?

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Eating disorders don’t have a “look”—they can affect anyone, in any body.

Praise for “healthy habits” can mask serious eating disorder behaviors.

Physical damage from eating disorders can happen long before visible signs appear.

"You're so disciplined." "I wish I had your willpower." "You look amazing. What's your secret?"

"You're so disciplined."

"I wish I had your willpower."

"You look amazing. What's your secret?"

These comments are usually intended as compliments. Yet for many people struggling with an eating disorder, they have the potential to reinforce the very behaviors that are causing harm and make it even harder for others to recognize that something is wrong.

As a therapist who specializes in eating disorders and body image concerns, I've had countless clients tell me, "No one knew I was struggling because everyone thought I was doing great." They were praised for losing weight, eating "clean," exercising regularly, or appearing to have incredible self-control. At the same time, they were consumed by thoughts about food and weight, trapped by rigid rules and compulsions. One of the biggest misconceptions about eating disorders is that they are obvious. In reality, they frequently remain hidden behind behaviors that our culture tends to admire.

Our culture rewards disordered behaviors. We live in a culture that frequently blurs the line between wellness and disordered eating. Skipping meals can be seen as intermittent fasting, exercising despite pain and exhaustion as a sign of dedication, and carefully tracking every bite of food as evidence of discipline and dedication to health. None of these behaviors is inherently........

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