Eating Disorder vs Disordered Eating: What's the Difference?

the difference can also be in the motivation. eating disorders are often driven by emotions and body image issues. disordered eating can also be driven by this and the difference there would be severity and control (whether you feel you can stop). but disordered eating can also have other causes. i have disordered eating but it's not because i don't want to eat or want to lose weight. it's from my adhd and autism and those making me forget to eat or sometimes feeling like all foods are wrong, and sometimes my depression making me lose my appetite or want to eat everything. someone else mentioned that disordered eating is a symptom and i agree with that, whether it's a symptom of a disorder or of diet culture.

No difference

Don’t think there’s a difference

it's hard to distinguish sometimes, but from what I've gathered, it's about severity and frequency. disordered eating would be not eating regularly every now and then, or eating in a way that isn't normal, but doesn't impact your every day. eating disorders would be all or most of the time, and would impact your every day life.

I have never heard of disordered eating before. I really appreciate this being brought to light. My meds really affected my appetite and created a negative view on food for me but never created an eating disorder. So I'd like to think I experience disordered eating and understand it well now. Thank you

Disordered eating is an unhealthy relationship with food, eating disorders are a mental health problem involving disordered eating

i think an eating disorder is a diagnosis, & disordered eating is a symptom. :3

Psychology Today says “What distinguishes disordered eating from a full-blown eating disorder? It is all about degree. An individual with disordered eating is often engaged in some of the same behavior as those with eating disorders but at a lesser frequency or lower level of severity.”

I honestly didn’t know there’s a difference or a separate definition. I might have disordered eating now that this is mentioned lol