Disordered Eating or an Eating Disorder? A Therapist and Coach Explain the Difference - Ep. 33

What’s the difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder - and why does it matter so much? In this episode of Once Upon a Binge, Becca and Katy unpack the often-confusing conversation around disordered eating, eating disorders and the grey area in between. They explore why these experiences can feel more like a spectrum than a clear-cut box, how diet culture and wellness culture can normalise harmful behaviours, and why so many people end up feeling like they’re “not bad enough” to deserve support. They also share parts of their own personal experiences with food, body image, restriction, bingeing, and recovery - including how eating struggles can develop gradually for some people, and much more intensely for others. In this episode, they talk about: ✨ The difference between disordered eating and a diagnosed eating disorder ✨ Why food struggles are often far more normalised than people realise ✨ How dieting, food rules, guilt, and morality around food can escalate over time ✨ Why labels can be helpful - but also harmful ✨ The problem with clinical criteria, BMI, and people being denied support ✨ How trauma, perfectionism, and the need for control can show up through food ✨ What a more peaceful relationship with food can actually look like This is such an important conversation if you’ve ever questioned whether your relationship with food is “serious enough” to matter. You do not need to hit a crisis point before your struggle counts. If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.