Do You Have A High-Functioning Eating Disorder?
You might be wondering, what is a functional eating disorder? I want to think about it as akin to functional alcoholism, or high-functioning alcoholism.
In high-functioning alcoholism, a person is able to maintain their job, relationships, and day-to-day tasks (e.g., cooking, cleaning, childcare), all while meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder. As a result, the person - as well as society and the people around them - most likely do not feel the person has a problem.
In my work as an eating disorder therapist, I have also seen individuals with high-functioning eating disorders - being able to participate in their jobs, relationships, and day-to-day tasks, all while engaging in eating disorder behaviors such as restricting or ‘perfect’ eating.
Orthorexia is an eating disorder that revolves around ‘perfect’ eating. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, signs and symptoms include:
Compulsive checking of ingredient lists and nutrition labels
An increase in concern about the health of ingredients
Cutting out an increasing number of food groups (all sugar, all carbs)
An inability to eat anything but a narrow group of foods that are deemed ‘healthy’ or ‘pure’
Unusual interest in the health of what others are eating
A feeling of superiority around their nutrition and intolerance of other people’s food behaviors and beliefs
High levels of perfectionism
Spending hours per day thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events
Showing high levels of distress when ‘safe’ or ‘healthy’ foods aren’t available
Obsessive following of food and “healthy lifestyle” blogs on Instagram
Body image concerns may or may not be present
Psychosocial impairments in different areas of lif
Other behaviors I have observed include:
Calorie counting
Macro counting
Only allowing a certain number of calories per day, and disregarding hunger cues after calorie allotment has been met
Not allowing oneself to eat after a certain time at night
Being strict with one’s eating during the week, and then allowing themselves to eat whatever they want on the weekend or holidays
Using coffee, or other beverages, to suppress one’s appetite
You may be reading these signs and worry you have disordered eating, or a diagnosable eating disorder. You may also be concerned how your relationship with food and body can impact your child’s relationship with food and body. If you want to find more support in your recovery journey, please check out the National Eating Disorder Association website for more information and resources.
Change is still possible, and you are not alone.
