Categories: AllFood

This Popular Diet Trend Could Be An Eating Disorder In Disguise


So how do you know if it’s safe to try intermittent fasting? Our experts shared that it’s all in your head — or, more specifically, in your mindset.

“The key difference lies in mindset, intent and impact on daily life,” Mehr said. If you are able to do intermittent fasting without obsessive thoughts about food or body image, and without rigid food rules that impair your daily functioning, then it might be OK. For everyone else, it can quickly spiral into disordered eating. 

This might look like “experiencing intense anxiety about breaking ‘rules,’ obsessing over food, feeling shame about eating, avoiding social events involving food or using fasting as a way to control weight at all costs,” according to O’Melia. 

“No one sets out thinking, ‘I want to develop an eating disorder,’ but for individuals with certain genetic, psychological and environmental risk factors, seemingly healthy choices can inadvertently lead to dangerous patterns,” O’Melia said. 

Signs intermittent fasting is triggering disordered eating include:

  • Compensatory behaviors, like excessive exercise or purging.
  • Avoiding social meals that don’t fall in your eating window.
  • Increasing preoccupation with food, body image or weight.
  • Low energy, mood disturbances, sleep issues or trouble concentrating.
  • Only eating “safe” or “healthy” foods.
  • Eating in isolation; secrecy or hiding of eating behaviors.
  • Binge eating symptoms, feeling of loss of control when eating.
  • Feeling anxiety, guilt or shame if you eat outside your “allowed” window.
  • Experiencing medical issues such as fainting, amenorrhea, GI distress, or fatigue, dizziness, weakness, irritability or obsessional thinking about food.
  • Negative or emotionally reactive responses to expressions of concern about changes in behavior.
  • Any additional or increasing behaviors that can be associated with eating disorders, such as laxative use, changes in exercise patterns, developing food rules about the types of food eaten rather than just the times that food is eaten.
  • If fasting starts to feel like an obligation instead of a choice — or affects your ability to enjoy life — it may be time to reevaluate. 

“It’s critical to remember that the human body is incredibly complex — and it thrives when treated with compassion, not punishment,” O’Melia said.

Who Shouldn’t Do Intermittent Fasting?

Sydni Ellis

Recent Posts

Kevin Federline Revealed Britney Spears Settlement Is Not As Much As You Think

Britney Spears' Ex Talks About Their Divorce Settlement

13 minutes ago

Selena Gomez Responded To Speculation That Hailey Bieber Shaded Her In An Interview

Selena Gomez Responds To Hailey Bieber Interview Selena Gomez is clearing the air (again) on…

20 minutes ago

Doctors Are Warning About A Dangerous Respiratory Illness That’s Surging As COVID Cases Drop

As we head into virus season, now’s the time to think about the steps you…

1 hour ago

24 Posts From The Internet This Week That Are Literally Just So Wholesome

Happy weekend! Here are some cute, happy, and wholesome posts to hopefully cheer you up…

1 hour ago

How Annoying Are You, Scientifically?

How Annoying Are You? Quiz I write on the internet for a living, which means…

1 hour ago

People Are Calling Out The Trump Admin For Revoking People’s Visas Over Charlie Kirk Opinions

"Conservatives have no right to talk about freedom of speech ever again."View Entire Post ›

1 hour ago