Disciplined or Dysfunctional? What constitutes an eating disorder?

[Anonymous]

Let's talk about it.

I see how DCUM discusses women with my body type. I'm certain many of you would assume I have an eating disorder if you saw me in public.

I don't think I have any food issues, really. I am a disciplined dieter. I work out hard and often, I like to see the results of my workouts so I diet down to a very lean frame.

However, as my DD ages, I am sensitive to how this appears. I'm extremely cautious about how I discuss food, diet and and mention of my own body. Particularly in her presence.

Can anyone articulate where the line is drawn between disciplined dieting and an ED?

[Anonymous]

Using phrases like “disciplined dieter” would be one clue that you’re engaged in an eating disorder. I’m guessing there are a whole host of rituals and restrictions that you regularly engage in. You intentionally restrict food so that you can see the definition of muscle after a work out.

You know this is an issue and you’re fooling yourself if you think your daughter isn’t picking up on it.

[Anonymous]

I personally feel that once you have an eating disorder you always have an eating disorder. It is a mental health condition that you manage. If you are managing it well, it is not impacting your physical health, your mental health, or your relationships with others. What does your doctor say about your weight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Using phrases like “disciplined dieter” would be one clue that you’re engaged in an eating disorder. I’m guessing there are a whole host of rituals and restrictions that you regularly engage in. You intentionally restrict food so that you can see the definition of muscle after a work out.

You know this is an issue and you’re fooling yourself if you think your daughter isn’t picking up on it.

+1
That’s an eating disorder. Lots of women with eating disorders don’t think their eating or behaviors are at all disordered, just “disciplined.” Oh hey - you.

You know we can’t see your body and have no idea what you’re talking about when you say “DCUM discusses women with my body type.”

[Anonymous]

What is your bmi? If it's above 18 and below 23 you don't have an eating disorder, case closed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your bmi? If it's above 18 and below 23 you don't have an eating disorder, case closed

You might not want to talk about things you don’t know anything about. People weighing 300 lbs can and do have eating disorders. One can have an eating disorder at any weight.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think restricting food to attain muscle definition is an eating disorder. I’m right in the normal BMI range, but to stay there in middle age means food restriction for many women (including me).

I don’t know where that line is, but I can’t agree that disciplined eating is the deciding factor. In fact it’s something more Americans should be doing IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your bmi? If it's above 18 and below 23 you don't have an eating disorder, case closed

That's not true at all. There are plenty of high bmi people who are bulimic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's talk about it.

I see how DCUM discusses women with my body type. I'm certain many of you would assume I have an eating disorder if you saw me in public.

I don't think I have any food issues, really. I am a disciplined dieter. I work out hard and often, I like to see the results of my workouts so I diet down to a very lean frame.

However, as my DD ages, I am sensitive to how this appears. I'm extremely cautious about how I discuss food, diet and and mention of my own body. Particularly in her presence.

Can anyone articulate where the line is drawn between disciplined dieting and an ED?

I don't think you have an eating disorder specifically because you're willing to be so open about it. But an exercise disorder maybe.

Question though, what are you worried about your daughter getting from how you talk about food diet and body?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your bmi? If it's above 18 and below 23 you don't have an eating disorder, case closed

That's not true at all. There are plenty of high bmi people who are bulimic.

If you are over 23 you are disordered because you eat too much, below 18 you don't eat enough. It's not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Any unhealthy relationship with food is an eating disorder. If you are spending a lot of your mental energy thinking about food, what you ate what you didn't eat, how many calories you are burning, if you are getting high or depressed from food you have an eating disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's talk about it.

I see how DCUM discusses women with my body type. I'm certain many of you would assume I have an eating disorder if you saw me in public.

I don't think I have any food issues, really. I am a disciplined dieter. I work out hard and often, I like to see the results of my workouts so I diet down to a very lean frame.

However, as my DD ages, I am sensitive to how this appears. I'm extremely cautious about how I discuss food, diet and and mention of my own body. Particularly in her presence.

Can anyone articulate where the line is drawn between disciplined dieting and an ED?

In recovery for an ED (many years of good eating). This sounds like you are heading down the disordered eating path. You don't say "deathly eating" but talk about diet. You don't talk about strong body - but lean frame. I am not an expert, but maybe (especially if you are doing multiple workouts a day) consider having a discussion with your doctor that your body is getting all it needs.

Also, I think that since you are concerned about your daughter - you know that you may have (at minimum) some time of food/body obsession. Good luck - this is a life long battle to healthy eating and body image.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think restricting food to attain muscle definition is an eating disorder. I’m right in the normal BMI range, but to stay there in middle age means food restriction for many women (including me).

I don’t know where that line is, but I can’t agree that disciplined eating is the deciding factor. In fact it’s something more Americans should be doing IMO.

+1 As I got older I gained weight eating the same amount. I started eating less, and it stabilized. It's just a fact that older people need fewer calories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your bmi? If it's above 18 and below 23 you don't have an eating disorder, case closed

That's not true at all. There are plenty of high bmi people who are bulimic.

Agreed. These are idiot things people say who have no idea what disordered eating looks like.

[Anonymous]

Just the fact thst you talk about being disciplined about food and exercise shows that at the very least you have a disordered relationship with your weight.