Many people think about food and their weight, but how can you know when your thoughts and behaviors related to food indicate an eating disorder? Edward Dickerhoof, LPCC-S, of Aultman Medical Group Behavioral Health and Counseling Center, discusses how to know when you should seek help for disordered eating.

Disordered eating can manifest in many forms, such as restrictive dieting, binge eating or unhealthy relationships with food. It is crucial to seek help when these behaviors begin to interfere with your daily life or emotional well-being.

If you find yourself obsessively thinking about food, weight or body image, and these thoughts affect your ability to focus on other important aspects of life, it may be time to seek support.

Additionally, when eating behaviors cause physical harm such as significant weight loss, malnutrition or digestive issues, it is essential to reach out to a healthcare professional.

Another sign that help is needed is when eating patterns become more extreme or rigid. This can include avoiding meals, eliminating entire food groups or engaging in excessive exercise in response to food intake. Disordered eating may also manifest through periods of extreme hunger followed by binge eating or purging.

If you experience cycles of emotional distress around food or have feelings of guilt or shame after eating, these are strong indicators that you might benefit from professional guidance to address underlying emotional or psychological issues.

Disordered eating often coexists with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression or low self-esteem. If these issues are affecting your quality of life and persist despite efforts to manage them on your own, seeking help is vital.

A licensed therapist, dietitian or doctor specializing in eating disorders can provide the necessary support and treatment to help restore a healthy relationship with food and improve overall well-being.

Early intervention can significantly improve recovery outcomes, so it's important not to delay seeking help when needed.

We all have a relationship with food that will last a lifetime. Let’s do everything we can to make this relationship a healthy one.