When healthy eating becomes unhealthy: Recognising disordered eating

Eating well can be an important part of supporting health and wellbeing.

However, sometimes the pursuit of healthy eating can become so rigid, stressful, or all-consuming that it begins to negatively affect a person's quality of life.

This is where healthy intentions can sometimes cross into disordered eating.

What is disordered eating?

Disordered eating refers to a range of eating behaviours that may not meet the criteria for an eating disorder but can still have a significant impact on physical and psychological wellbeing.

These behaviours often exist on a spectrum and may develop gradually over time.

Common signs of disordered eating

Some examples include:

• Strict food rules

• Labelling foods as "good" or "bad"

• Feeling guilty after eating certain foods

• Avoiding social situations involving food

• Frequently starting new diets

• Anxiety around eating out

• Compensating for eating through excessive exercise

• Constantly thinking about food, weight, or body shape

Many of these behaviours are normalised in today's culture, which can make them difficult to recognise.

It's not about weight

One of the biggest misconceptions about eating disorders and disordered eating is that they only affect people who are underweight.

In reality, people of all body sizes can experience significant struggles with food, eating, and body image.

Weight alone does not tell us whether someone has a healthy relationship with food.

The impact on daily life

Eating well and nourishing your body should support your life—not take over your life.

If food rules are causing stress, limiting social activities, creating feelings of guilt, or affecting your emotional wellbeing, it may be worth exploring your relationship with food more closely.

When to seek support

You do not need to wait until things become severe before reaching out for help.

Early support can help address concerns before they become more entrenched and can improve both physical and emotional wellbeing.

Final thoughts

Wanting to eat well is not a problem.

However, when eating well becomes rigid, anxiety-provoking, or begins to interfere with everyday life, it may be a sign that something more is going on.

Developing a balanced and flexible relationship with food is possible, and support is available if you're finding food, eating, or body image increasingly difficult to navigate.