Source: French to English Tester Published on: 2026-05-05
Source: The Conversation – France in French (3)– By Gemma Sharp, Researcher in Body Image, Eating and Weight Disorders, Monash University
Problematic eating behaviors do not systematically lead to the development of an eating disorder. But some of them – particularly slimming diets – can sometimes be early warning signs.
Follow aweight-loss dietorpracticing intensive physical activityis frequent, even encouraged, in our societies where thecare given to his/her physical appearanceand the desire to preserve one’s health as best as possible are prominently featured. Moreover, it is not uncommon for some people to limit or eliminate certain foods due to specific dietary needs, or after becoming aware of the existence offood allergies.
While these behaviors are not necessarily problematic, in some cases, they can be a sign of an unhealthy relationship with food. However, it is possible to have problematic eating behaviors without being diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Where is the border? And what exactly is an eating disorder?
Disrupted eating: what are we talking about?
The concept ofdisrupted feedingcovers a set of negative attitudes and behaviors towards food and the act of eating, which are likely to result in an unbalanced eating pattern.
Disrupted feeding can result in:
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the use of slimming regimens;
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skipping meals;
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the exclusion of certain food groups;
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episodes of binge eating (urge to eat a lot and quickly, editor’s note) bulimic;
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misuse of laxatives and weight-loss drugs;
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induced vomiting (sometimes referred to as “purges”);
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compulsive exercise practice.
We speak of “disturbed eating” when these behaviors are notfrequent enough or severeto meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating conduct disorder (or eating behavior disorders, EBD).
Not all people who engage in these behaviors will necessarily develop an eating disorder. However, the onset of an eating disorder is generally preceded by disrupted eating –especially by the practice of slimming diets.
What is an eating disorder?
Eating disorders arecomplex psychiatric disorderswhich can affect the body, psyche, and social life of an individual. They are characterized by persistent disturbances in the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves towards food and their own body.
To make a diagnosis of an eating disorder, healthcare professionals rely on a combination of a general clinical interview and standardized questionnaires. These tools allow for the evaluation of the frequency and severity of behaviors as well as their impact on the daily functioning of the individuals concerned.
Among the eating disorders areanorexia nervosa, thebulimia nervosa, thebinge eating disorder– also called “food frenzy.”
(As highlighted by thesite of Psycom, a French public organization intended to inform, guide, and raise awareness about mental health, theInternational Classification of Diseasesclassify eating disorders within the broader family offeeding or nutritional disorders. Other disorders of this family, rarer than the three previously mentioned, include avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder orARFIDÂ – the people concerned are very selective about their food ; thePica, in which the person may eat non-edible substances; therumination-regurgitation disorder, in which the person regurgitates and re-chews the food, editor’s note).
Eating disorders, disturbed eating: what prevalence?
Prevalence figures vary considerably from one study to another, depending on how risk behaviors and attitudes are defined.
According to estimates, 8.4% of women and 2.2% of men will develop an eating disorder in their lifetime. This risk is particularly high during adolescence.
Disrupted feeding is alsovery common among young peopleÂ: 30% of girls and 17% of boys aged 6 to 18 years report adopting this type of behavior.
Although research on this point is still emerging, it appears that disordered eating and eating disorders are even more common amonggender non-conforming people(that is to say, those whose gender identity or expression differs from the gender norms associated with the sex assigned to them at birth, editor’s note).
Can eating disorders be prevented?
Some dataindicate that prevention programs targeting risk factors — such as slimming diets and concerns related to body image and weight — can be effective in the short term, to some extent.
The problem comes from the fact that most of the studies conducted on the subject have only been carried out for a few months. It is therefore impossible to determine whether the participants developed an eating disorder or not.In the longer term.
Moreover, the majority of these studies were conducted with adolescent girls finishing their secondary education or young women attending university. At these ages, eating disorders have generally already manifested: therefore, these works are not very enlightening regarding the prevention of eating disorders. Furthermore, they also neglect a large portion of people at risk.
Is orthorexia an eating disorder?
The term “orthorexia» (from Greekorthopedic, “right”, “exact”, andorexia, “appetite” means apathological obsessionof “healthy” food, characterized by arestrictive diet and the exclusion of any food deemed “unhealthy” or “impure”.
The debate aimed at determining which side of the boundary between eating disorders and disturbed eating orthorexia belongs to is not yet closed, and this behavior remains controversial. Currently, orthorexia is not included in official diagnostic manuals. Thesedisturbed eating behaviorsmust however be taken seriously, as they can lead to malnutrition, a deterioration of social ties, and an overall decline in quality of life.
Moreover, due to the growing popularity of certain diets (ketogenic, paleo, etc.), intermittent fasting, or the desire to eliminate certain components (such as gluten, for example), it can sometimes prove delicate to determine the point at which concerns related to food become pathological.
It is considered, for example, that about 6% of the population suffers from afood allergy. Recent data suggest that these people would exhibit aincreased riskto develop restrictive forms of eating or feeding disorders, such as anorexia or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
However, adopting a particular diet, such as veganism, or suffering from a food allergy does not automatically lead to disordered eating or an eating disorder. It is important to take into consideration theindividual motivationswhich underlie the choice to consume or avoid certain foods. Thus, a vegan person may restrict certain food groups due to their beliefs regarding animal rights, and not because of symptoms related to an eating disorder.
Warning signs
If you are wondering about your own relationship with food, or that of a loved one, here are somesigns to pay attention to :
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an excessive concern with food and its preparation;
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the elimination of entire food groups or regularly skipping meals;
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an obsession with weight or body shape;
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significant weight fluctuations;
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a compulsive practice of physical exercise;
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mood swings and withdrawal.
In case of doubt, it is always preferable to ask for help as early as possible. And above all, it is important to keep in mind that it is never too late to do so…
To learn more
Thepage dedicated to eating disorderson the Psycom website.
Gemma Sharp benefits from a research grant from the NHMRC. She is a professor, founding director, and member of the Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders, an accredited charity.
–ref. Eating behavior disorders or disturbed eating: where is the difference?https://theconversation.com/eating-disorders-or-disrupted-eating-where-is-the-difference-282027