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Signs of an Eating Disorder by a Haddonfield, New Jersey Eating Disorder Therapist

By: Gabby Morreale, M.A. LPC.


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What is an Eating Disorder?


An eating disorder is a pattern of eating-related behaviors that are seriously consequential to a person’s physical and mental well-being. They are painful, they are hard, and you can heal!  Oftentimes, popular media participates in and even encourages disordered eating. In my experience, disordered patterns of thought and behavior related to food can lead to an eating disorder. 


So what is Disordered eating? Disordered eating is the behavior that encourages dieting, food monitoring, and “watching your weight”. While the entire behavior itself is toxic, it becomes an eating disorder when certain diagnostic criteria are met and harmful patterns become overwhelmingly present in one’s day-to-day life! I know I had one. You can learn more about disordered eating here. 


Signs of an Eating Disorder 


Signs of an eating disorder look different in everyone. Therefore, everyone will need and is worthy of a unique individualized approach to their healing! I want to remind you that these are signs or indicators of an eating disorder, and while they align with eating disorders, it’s important to contact a professional for an actual diagnosis. Eating disorders are a category of disorders, and treatment varies between individuals. Professional care, love and support of others, and admitting your suffering are brave steps you can take to help you heal. 


Early intervention can be life-changing. If you or your loved one is showing signs of an eating disorder, reaching out sooner rather than later can greatly improve outcomes. At Recovered and Restored Eating Disorder Therapy Center, we’re here to walk alongside you on this journey with compassion, clinical expertise, and personalized care. Whether you're navigating anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, orthorexia, or disordered eating tied to trauma, OCD, or anxiety, we offer a variety of specialized services to support lasting recovery. From teen therapy and parent coaching to EMDR and online therapy across PA, NJ, DE, MD, FL, SC, CT, and VT, we are ready to help. Don’t wait. Reach out today to take the first step toward healing. Recovery is not only possible - it’s worth it.


Reach out for help – Contact a licensed therapist, physician, or registered dietitian. We are currently accepting clients. Feel free to reach out today! https://www.recoveredandrestoredtherapy.com/contact


Here are some signs you may exhibit or see in someone you love who could be struggling with an eating disorder.


Calorie Counting

Many people with and without an eating disorder engage in things like dieting. A huge issue comes up when people start cutting calories, especially in an effort to lose weight. This pushes them to become deficient in energy, because calories are just units of energy for your body! Try to avoid apps (like MyFitnessPal) and content that promote this behavior! Another good method is to avoid looking at nutrition labels. This could be an early sign of an eating disorder. 


Food Avoidance

Also, something that stems from diet culture, food avoidance is another sign of an eating disorder. Often leading to ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), this behavior stems from anxiety around a particular food. In my experience, this is often because a client is afraid of gaining weight due to the food. But it can also be for other reasons! Realistically, food is meant to be enjoyed, and one meal does not define who you are!


Purging 

Another way people who are developing an eating disorder may show signs is through purging. Whether it’s through exercise, laxatives, or vomiting, purging is a dangerous behavior and is a sign that an eating disorder may be present. If you notice yourself or others attempting to purge, it is important to contact a professional or have a conversation with the person of concern. 


Fears around Gaining Weight

Gaining weight is not something we need to fear. Bodies change, it’s ok! If you find yourself or your loved one obsessing over the scale or body changes, this may be a sign that an eating disorder is present or developing. Remember, our weight is simply our relationship to gravity. It does not define you, and not something that needs to be controlled. 



Hiding Food

Hiding food is a common behavior for many people struggling with an eating disorder, and it often comes from a place of shame, fear of judgment, or the desire to maintain secrecy around eating habits. Someone may stash food in private places. This can create feelings of guilt, isolation, and loss of control, only perpetuating an individual's disorder. Recognizing and talking about these patterns with a trusted support person or therapist can be an important step toward breaking free from the shame and moving toward healing.


Again, we want to reiterate that these are just SOME of the signs. Here is a link for more details about other signs and symptoms of eating disorders you or your loved one may experience in addition to the ones above: https://www.eatingdisorderfoundation.org/learn-more/about-eating-disorders/signs-and-symptoms/


What you can do if you’re struggling

  1. As mentioned earlier, we are taking new clients! Reach out to us or any other eating disorder therapy center for help if you think you may be showing signs of an eating disorder. https://www.recoveredandrestoredtherapy.com/contact

  2. Educate yourself – Read from reputable sources like our blogs https://www.recoveredandrestoredtherapy.com/blogand free learning tools https://www.recoveredandrestoredtherapy.com/free-resources or Eating Disorder Hope

  3. Be Honest with yourself or your loved one. Admitting we are struggling or gently discussing your concerns with a loved one can be hard, and YOU can do hard things. It may save your life or the life of the one you love. If you are the one who is struggling, please note you are brave and worthy of healing. 


Final Thoughts

As a seasoned provider, I cannot stress enough that healing is possible! Knowing the signs is important to be able to allow the recovery process to begin. 


Resources




Other Mental Health Services Offered in PA, NJ, DE, SC, MD, CT, VT, and FL


We offer a wide variety of services related to eating disorder recovery including trauma therapy!  We offer Weekly Support Groups, Nutrition Services,  and Family and Parent Therapy as well as Coaching, all tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual. We offer our services for Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, and Orthorexia as well as Maternal Mental Health, and eating disorder therapy for athletes online in New Jersey, Delaware, South Carolina, Maryland, Florida, Vermont, and Connecticut! We are here to offer our support and understanding in a safe and non-judgmental environment.


We have immediate openings right now for eating disorder therapy in:

Delaware, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland South Carolina, Connecticut, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.

And recovery coaching worldwide.



Recovered and Restored is an eating disorder therapy center founded by Gabrielle Morreale, LPC. We specialize in helping teens and young women heal from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia, and binge eating disorder and treat disordered eating, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. We provide eating disorder therapy in the towns of Horsham, Upper Gwynedd, Lower Gwynedd, North Wales, Lansdale, Hatfield, Blue Bell, Doylestown, and nearby towns with eating disorder therapy. Also providing virtual eating disorder therapy in New Jersey, Delaware, and Florida. Some towns served virtually but are not limited to Pittsburg, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Center City, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Mount Laurel, Cape May, Avalon, Brick, Dover, New Castle, Bethany Beach, Marydel, and Oceanview

 
 
 

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