In a society obsessed by thinness, dieting and body image, how can we recognise where normal concern with body size and eating ends and abnormal behaviour begins? Preoccupation with weight and fat intake are characteristic of eating disorders but do not, in themselves, indicate the existence of an eating disorder. In fact, this preoccupation is symptomatic of deeper psychological stresses that go far beyond concerns regarding body image.
Some psychologists argue that the statistical rise in the incidence of eating disorders is due, in part, to the application of vague criteria by the authors of surveys and questionnaires which are used in the compilation of these statistics. That is to say that, rather than recording the incidence of eating disorders, such statistics measure the prevalence of both eating disorders and disordered eating within the general population. While anorexia nervosa occurs in 0.2-1.1% of the population and bulimia nervosa has a rate of 0.4-3.2%, a staggering 15.4-61.9% of female athletes regularly engage in at least one method of unhealthy weight control. It is a tragic consequence of disordered eating that these behaviours often elicit a response which only serves to reinforce the heightened interest in physical appearance.
It is important to remember that, while disordered eating is distinctly different from an eating disorder, it can have serious effects on one's health. Potential medical complications include osteoporosis, amenorrhoea and general nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, any individual who shows signs of disordered eating should seek professional help in order to keep their concerns over weight and body size in perspective.