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Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect a person’s relationship with food and their body, as well as interfere with their daily life.

They are not a choice or the result of a lack of willpower, and they can affect people of all body sizes, backgrounds, and identities.

*A group of people sitting in a bright indoor setting.*

How is an Eating Disorder Diagnosed?

Eating disorders are diagnosed through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessment. Patients are typically evaluated by a medical provider, therapist, and dietitian.

Assessment may include evaluation of the following:

Eating behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs about food/body

Exercise patterns

Dietary intake

Weight history and changes

Medical stability (labs, vitals, EKG)

Mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression, OCD traits, etc.)

Based on the results of the assessments, your loved one may be diagnosed with an eating disorder. While not all eating disorders look the same, and symptoms often vary from person to person, these are the common diagnoses categories that they fall into.

Common Eating Disorder Diagnoses

Anorexia Nervosa
Eating very little and having a strong fear of gaining weight, often along with a difficult relationship with body image.

Bulimia Nervosa
Episodes of eating large amounts of food followed by attempts to “undo” it, such as vomiting, using laxatives, or over-exercising.

Binge Eating Disorder
Repeated episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short time, often feeling out of control and followed by guilt or distress.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Limited eating that is not about body image, but instead related to things like food textures, fear of choking, or low appetite.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
Eating disorder symptoms that don’t fit neatly into one category but are still serious and deserve support and treatment.

Explore Eating Disorder Symptoms

Supporting a Loved One with an Eating Disorder

Caring for someone with an eating disorder can feel overwhelming at times. There isn’t a “perfect” way to handle it, but small, consistent actions can make a meaningful difference.

Create space for open conversations. Let your loved one share what they’re going through without jumping in to fix or correct.

Encourage consistency with treatment (appointments, meal plans, recommendations), even when it’s hard.

Recognize that meals and snacks may bring up anxiety or distress for your loved one. Staying calm and engaging in lighthearted conversation during mealtimes can help take the focus off uncomfortable emotions.

Be thoughtful about how food, weight, and bodies are talked about at home. These conversations can have a bigger impact than you might expect.

Model a balanced and flexible relationship with food, along with neutral or kind self-talk about your own body.

Take care of yourself, too. Supporting someone in recovery can be emotionally demanding, and you deserve support along the way.

Remember that eating disorders are serious at any body size. Someone does not have to “look sick” to be struggling.

Avoid commenting on your loved one’s weight or appearance. Even comments that are meant as compliments can be harmful.

Don’t try to control your family member’s behavior. Recovery may look different or happen at a different pace than you expect.

How to Talk About Food at Home

*A family sitting around a table at mealtime.*

The way you talk about food at home can significantly impact recovery. Here are some tips for supporting recovery at home:

Use neutral, non-judgmental language about food

Avoid labeling foods as “clean” or “healthy/unhealthy” or “good/bad”

Normalize eating a variety of foods, including fear foods

Support a regular eating schedule without interrogation

Avoid commenting on portion sizes

Focus conversations on connection, not consumption, during meals

Helpful reframes:

Instead of: “That’s a lot of carbs” Reframe to “I’m glad you’re nourishing your body”

Instead of: “You shouldn’t eat that” Reframe to “All foods can fit”

Instead of: “You’re not fat!” Reframe to “I’m sorry you feel uncomfortable in your body today.”

How to Support After Treatment

Before discharge, patients are typically set up with:

An outpatient therapist specializing in eating disorders

A registered dietitian for ongoing nutrition support

Families can support continued recovery by:

Encouraging follow-up care and consistency

Maintaining structured meals/snacks at home

Watching for early warning signs of relapse (increased restriction, rigidity, withdrawal, etc.)

Continuing to create a low-pressure, supportive food environment

Staying connected to caregiver support resources

Helpful Resources for Families

Internet resources:

FEAST (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders): https://feast-ed.org/ Offers forums, caregiver education, and practical support tools.