Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect anyone. A wide variety of factors can influence how a person may develop an eating disorder, from biological to cultural. Food insecurity, or a person’s lack of access to adequate food of sufficient quality, is one such factor that can have immense impacts on the development and persistence of an eating disorder. This article will help you understand the basic signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, the impacts of food insecurity, and how these two are intertwined. 

What Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions affecting a person’s relationship to food, body image, and/or eating behaviors. Eating disorders include conditions like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, OSFED, and ARFID. Those experiencing eating disorders may often struggle with fixations on food and eating, obsessions with body weight and shape, and/or distorted body image. Often, these eating disorder symptoms can co-occur with other mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance misuse, which can add to further challenges and complications. 

Eating disorders may present differently for individuals depending on a wide range of factors, from personal health history to cultural background. Nevertheless, there are some common signs and symptoms of disordered eating behaviors: 

• Frequent dieting and excessive exercise
• Food restriction
• Binge eating and/or purging behaviors
• Fixation on calories, nutritional information, or particular food groups
• Significant changes in weight
• Secretive or ritualized eating habits
• Extreme shifts in mood and behavior
• Worsening mental health problems and substance misuse

These eating disorder signs can have significant short-term and long-term consequences on one’s health. Complications may include gastrointestinal issues, osteoporosis, organ failure, and even loss of life. Early intervention and access to care are important in treating this serious mental illness.  

Eating disorders can develop for a myriad of reasons, regardless of gender, age, race, or other factors. Personal medical history, genetics, cultural influences, and other environmental factors can all play a role in the development of an eating disorder. The highest predictor of developing an eating disorder is if a relative has experienced an eating disorder. Understanding signs and symptoms of eating disorders can help you or a loved one get the help you need.

What Is Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity is a social and economic condition wherein a household has insufficient access to food. A lack of access to food or uncertainty about where a person will be able to access food can lead to profound impacts on both physical and mental health. Food insecurity can show up in several ways:

1. Insufficient food resources: When there are not enough grocery stores or other food resources in an area to serve the density of the population, people may not be able to access enough food to meet their needs. This is more common in urban areas.
2. Challenging geography: For households in rural areas, families may be inhibited by the long distances or unsafe travel conditions one must go to access grocery stores or food resources, leading to food insecurity.
3. Unsatisfactory food quality: Even if food is available in an area, food insecurity can occur if the available food is spoiled or has low nutrient density. 
4. Economic barriers: For those who live in areas where food is abundant and of good quality, economic barriers can still limit their access to food. 

It is important that everyone meets their daily nutritional needs, but for many people there exists an economic barrier to this basic need. In fact, thirteen percent of Americans experience food insecurity, including 7.3 million children. This number has unfortunately increased in recent years due to rising cost of goods, the end of food assistance programs that targeted food insecurity during the Covid-19 pandemic, increased inflation paired with stagnant wages, and other factors of economic instability. 

Though food insecurity can affect anyone, regardless of race, age, or gender, there are some demographic trends that arise. Low-income households are most impacted by food insecurity. Families with children and households with senior citizens tend to experience greater rates of food insecurity. Cultural and racial minorities, women, and single mothers also experience increased food insecurity. Furthermore, food insecurity is higher in areas where food access is more challenging, such as in urban areas where there are less grocery stores or in rural areas where food resources are a long distance away from people’s homes. 

Food insecurity has significant impacts on both physical and mental health. Research has shown that adults who experience food insecurity also suffer from higher rates of heart disease, asthma, migraines, and type 2 diabetes. The health effects of food insecurity on youth is equally as concerning. Children and adolescents who experience food insecurity may have developmental disorders, stunted growth, and cognitive impairment. These physical health problems can be further exacerbated by the accompanying mental health problems associated with food insecurity. Increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, sleep disorders, and eating disorders also occur among those grappling with food insecurity.

A Growing Challenge: Food Insecurity and Eating Disorders

Both food insecurity and eating disorders are profound challenges for individuals. More evidence is arising in recent years showing a close connection between these two issues. For example, people experiencing high levels of food insecurity are more likely to report binge eating behaviors, restrictive eating patterns, avoidance of food groups, reduced self-esteem, and increased levels of anxiety. In a survey of individuals who utilize food shelf resources, there is a prevalence of disordered eating behaviors, including purging, misuse of laxatives, extended fasting and meal skipping, and excessive exercise, at a higher rate than the general population.

Why are we seeing a link between food insecurity and eating disorders? The ensuing consequences of food insecurity are common triggers of many eating disorders. For those who live in situations of food insecurity, there are times of food scarcity and times of food security. Restrictive behaviors often occur during times of food scarcity and regular eating often resumes when food becomes available again, potentially resulting in a cycle of restriction and overeating. When food availability fluctuates, eating disorder pathology can more easily take root. Furthermore, children who have a history of neglect are more likely to have an eating disorder as adults. The psychological impacts of growing up in food insecurity can have lasting effects on eating and feeding behaviors well into adulthood. 

Finding Support for Food Insecurity and Eating Disorders 

Food insecurity and eating disorders can have a significant overlap. For this reason, support for one challenge can be beneficial to the other.

Hunger Relief and Food Justice 

For those experiencing food insecurity, there are a multitude of resources available. It is important that people not only get the food or funds to alleviate the immediate need, but also resources and programming for navigating long-term needs. Federal assistance like the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and nutritional programming through Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are widely available and fairly easy to access. Most communities have local resources, from food pantries to community assistance programs. These programs are in place to assist families and individuals through times of food insecurity, but food insecurity is a systemic issue rooted in social inequality. Food justice organizations all around the nation are working to ensure that the basic human right to sufficient, nutritious food is available to all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic background. 

Eating Disorder Treatment 

Treatment and support are important for recovery from an eating disorder. Interventions may be more challenging to access for those in households who are having trouble accessing basic needs like food, but there are resources for help, regardless of economic background. Eating disorder treatment options can vary based on eating disorder type, medical complications, the type of facility, and geographic availability. Working closely with a care team can help you find the treatment and support that is right for you on your journey to recovery.

Seek Help

If you or a loved one is experiencing an eating disorder, you are not alone. Recovery is possible and help is available with the National Alliance for Eating Disorders. If you experience food insecurity, you can find resources online and Food Assistance Programs in your area.