Do You Struggle With Disordered Eating? An Inventory for Assessing Your Relationship With Food

One of the topics we've discussed before is the concept of mental health conditions as spectrum disorders. This means they are pathological manifestations of normal emotional responses or coping mechanisms. For example, PTSD is a part of the body's normal physiological response that helps us avoid harmful situations.

Eating disorders are no exception to this rule. When you think of disordered eating, the first thing that often comes to mind is an emaciated person who refuses to eat, risking major health concerns. While this is one form of disordered eating, physical appearance is not the sole indicator of an unhealthy relationship with food. In fact, there are many ways that stress related to food and disordered eating can control our lives without our conscious awareness. You might fall on the spectrum of disordered eating while considering it a normal relationship with food.

Indicators Of An Unhealthy Relationship With Food

Food Becomes a source of stress.

Food is meant to nourish our bodies—nothing more. Yes, some foods are more nutritionally dense than others, but that's the extent of their significance. If you are feeling stressed out about food choices, or are experiencing feelings of guilt when eating particular foods, it might be time to re-examine your relationship with food.

Food is linked to our self-worth & Esteem

It is important to remember that food doesn't define our humanity or capabilities. Its purpose is to provide our bodies with the necessary fuel for the day.

If you catch yourself judging yourself or others based on their food choices, consider why. What does choosing a fruit over a French fry say about a person? How does your opinion of someone change based on the food they eat?

Food might be playing a larger role in your life than it should. It's worth stepping back and reflecting on what food truly means to you and how it influences your daily life.

Examining Your Behaviors Around Food

Disordered eating patterns can take various forms. Here are some questions to help you assess your relationship with food:

Do you avoid certain foods due to how you think they might affect your body?
Do you feel the need to restrict your food intake the day after overeating or making "wrong" food choices?
Are there foods you only allow yourself to eat at specific times?
Do you ban certain foods from your home to prevent overeating?
Do you feel angry with yourself for your eating habits?
Do you consistently try to eat less?
Do you frequently skip meals when possible?
Do you experiment with diets or intermittent fasting to mask restriction?
Do you feel better about yourself when you eat less?
Do thoughts of food consume your mind throughout the day?
Do you believe you must eat healthily all the time?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be struggling with your own disordered eating patterns. Disordered eating implies that food has taken on more significance in your life than it should. While this might seem positive, it can lead to severe mental health issues in the future and greatly impact your daily life.

A Final Word

Recognizing the need for self-awareness is crucial in identifying an unhealthy relationship with food. This awareness serves as a foundation for taking effective action against it. Overcoming disordered eating is attainable, but it necessitates the right guidance and expertise from healthcare professionals.

To gain further insights into this topic, we invite you to attend our webinar on August 22nd, 2023 at 12 PM. We will explore Eating Disorders as a spectrum disorder and delve into how Naturopathic Medicine can help foster a healthier connection with food.