Disordered Eating Doesn’t Always Look the Way We Expect

When people think about disordered eating, they often picture something extreme or easily recognizable. In reality, disordered eating exists on a spectrum, and many people live with it quietly for years without realizing that what they are experiencing has a name.

In Canada, this quietness matters. Current estimates suggest that approximately one million Canadians are living with a diagnosed eating disorder, and research indicates that many more experience disordered eating patterns that never meet formal diagnostic criteria or enter the healthcare system. Because of this, the true scope of disordered eating is likely under-recognized and under-reported.
(Source opportunity: National Initiative for Eating Disorders, Canada.ca)

Disordered eating can include rigid rules around food, persistent guilt after eating, cycles of restriction and overeating, or using food as a way to cope with stress, emotions, or a sense of control. These experiences do not always align with common stereotypes, and they do not always come with visible signs.

For many people, disordered eating develops in response to life experiences rather than body image alone. Stress, trauma, major transitions, chronic illness, perfectionism, or a history of feeling out of control can all shape how someone relates to food. Over time, eating can become less about nourishment and more about managing emotions, expectations, or discomfort.

Canadian data highlights how early these patterns can begin. Estimates suggest that over one million young people in Canada are affected by eating disorders, yet only a small proportion receive timely or appropriate support. This gap reflects not only access barriers, but also how easily disordered eating can go unnoticed or be minimized, both by individuals and by those around them.
(Source opportunity: Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Because certain eating behaviours are normalized or even praised in our culture, people may tell themselves that what they are experiencing is “not serious enough,” or that they should be able to manage it on their own. This belief often delays support, even when food and eating are taking up significant mental and emotional energy.

Support for disordered eating is not about labels or judgment. It is about understanding what role food has come to play in someone’s life and gently exploring other ways to meet the needs that food may currently be helping to manage. This kind of support can be especially important for people whose experiences do not fit neatly into diagnostic categories but still affect their wellbeing.

If your relationship with food feels complicated, exhausting, or distressing, you do not need to meet a specific threshold to deserve care. Support can help you better understand what is happening beneath the surface, at a pace that feels safe and respectful.