what exactly is the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating?

I don't think there is a difference. Only perhaps disorderd eating is a disorder that has not gotten so bad that it has started to effect the persons health (mental and physical).

hmm ok can you as a person dealing with food issues fool someone when you have an eating disorder and they think you just have disordered eating? im not saying this is me or that i want to or anything just wondering!

i think disordered eating is eating habits and beliefs about food that simply aren't "normal." I am sure there are many more people that can fall under that category. An eating disorder is disordered eating but taken to another level. When it effects everyday life and the person is unable to stop.

I don't think you can fool someone by saying you have disordered eating as opposed to saying eating disorder, because either way, there's a problem.

Right- either way, it's a problem.

I think it's like the difference between a problem drinker and an alcoholic. Who is putting the label on the problem and is the person willing to admit they have a problem that needs treatment?

i agree with the fact that either way its a problem.. but it just doesnt seem like a REAL problem if its saying disordered eating.

kinda off topic- can therapists diagnose eating disorders?

Yes. They aren't medical doctors, but they can diagnose an ED. Would it be an "offical" medical diagnosis since they aren't doctors? No. ED's are really considered psychiatric disorders. A psychiatrist would probably be better at diagnosing than a therapist.

i tell myself all the time that this isn't really a problem. or that someone else's eating disorder is what a real problem is, and because i dont think im as "bad" as they are, i must not have an eating disorder.

recognizing that it is a problem, no matter what you call it, is important. labels dont change the fact that it is a BIG problem and needs to be treated.

thanks- the only reason i ask is because i went to my therapist on monday and we ended up talking about food and i told her that i have issues with food (i havent been going long so i wasnt hiding it from her) and we only got to talk about it for like 20ish mins. and we didnt get to like detail or anything but she just said something about disordered eating. but ive been under the belief that i have an eating disorder and now im all confused...

i wouldnt focus on the technical terms. you probably do have an eating disorder, but from what she was able to tell, she said disordered eating. people say 'a woman with disordered eating' and mean 'a woman with an eating disorder', so dont go too much into technical terms. they dont mean much.

lol ok sorry, thats one of my things- i over analyze things... and i dont want to make a big deal out of nothing- so i dont want to be going and her be thinking ' you dont need anything your wasting time and money...'

ha, do i know how overanalyzing things goes! im getting better at not doing that, but seriously, your therapist isnt thinking that. sometimes its good to go right out and say how you feel, and for her to tell you that she doesnt think that way at all. its especially good when they have a surprised look on their face like why would you think that i thought that way? look. :-P

lol well i dont really know how therapists work, their mindset, etc. i havent figured them out yet. but in some weird way i want to be diagnosed so that way my parents can see that im not faking anything and that if im going to be healthy then i need help. i dont know im still in that 'iffy' stage of recovery....