Distinguishing Between Normal Dieting and Eating Disorders- Key Differences

Distinguishing Between Normal Dieting and Eating Disorders- Key Differences

Dieting refers to restricting food to small amounts of special types of foods so as to lose weight. On the other hand, an eating disorder refers to a persistent disturbance of eating-related or eating behavior that leads to an altered absorption or consumption of food, which highly impairs psychosocial functioning or physical health (Gordon, 2019). The common symptoms observed in an eating disorder include dietary restrictions like restricting oneself to particular calorie amounts, inappropriate compensatory behaviors like laxative abuse, and self-induced vomiting. Additional eating disorder symptoms include binge eating, that is, eating large food quantities while unable to feel any sense of control, being preoccupied with weight, and basing one’s sense of worth on one’s body shape or appearance (Gordon, 2019). Whereas an eating disorder and dieting both include dietary restriction, an individual goes to an extreme limitation in an eating disorder. The food rules are usually self-imposed and have greater stakes attached, and the ability to adhere to these regulations is linked to the person’s self-worth. Failure to adhere to this is followed by immense guilt and shame (Fabello, 2013). A dieting individual is likely to venture into the territory of an eating disorder, especially when the food rules start to feel more like a character test or compulsion instead of adhering to instructions, as is seen in regular dieting.

Both eating disorders and dieting require some level of lifestyle shake-up. The extent to which this happens is what brings the difference. For instance, when dieting, individuals change their foods and are likely to alter their exercise and sleep regimes by following some guidelines. While dieting, one sets a particular goal weight within a reasonable and healthy range. However, dieting goes too far and morphs into an eating disorder when such changes move from small to significant changes, and the individual has no specific weight goal, only that they desire to be weightless as they have an unjustifiable and insatiable desire to lose weight.

Most people diet to reduce weight, gain health benefits, medical necessity, improve athletic performance, religion, and personal preference, among other reasons. By doing so, individuals generally record an enhanced quality of life. On the other hand, an individual with an eating disorder is likely to experience impaired physical health, such as fatigue, dehydration, and heart problems and will also have a greater risk for obesity (Fabello, 2013). In short, a diet turns into an eating disorder when it begins to interfere with the ability of the person to lead a normal life. An eating disorder is likely to negatively impact a person’s career, relationship, or ability to function outside the world.

References

Fabello, M. A. (2013). Five Subtle Differences Between Diets and Anorexia. Everyday Feminism. Retrieved from https://everydayfeminism.com/2013/04/five-differences-between-diets-and-anorexia/

Gordon, K. (2019). When Does a Diet Become an Eating Disorder? Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-ivory-tower/201904/when-does-diet-become-eating-disorder

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Distinguishing Between Normal Dieting and Eating Disorders- Key Differences

Discuss the difference between normal dieting and an eating disorder