Eating Disorders vs. Disordered Eating: A Gen Z Therapist Perspective
By Sarah Dino, APC
If you’ve been on the internet at all in the past five years, chances are you’ve come across content that subtly (or not-so-subtly) promotes disordered eating. Whether it's “almond moms” romanticizing restriction or “girl dinner” glamorizing minimal meals, these trends often blur the line between quirky and concerning.
And if you haven’t been chronically online (good for you, honestly), let me break down a few examples.
Disordered Eating Disguised as Trends
The Almond Mom
This term references the kind of restrictive eating habits passed down — often unintentionally — from moms who grew up in peak diet culture. The classic line:
“I’m not hungry, I had a few almonds earlier.”
This isn’t about actual almonds — it’s about a mindset rooted in control, thinness, and fear of “overeating.” It sends the message that hunger is something to ignore or manage, rather than respond to.
Girl Dinner
This one’s tricky because it’s also funny and relatable — shoutout to the chaotic elegance of a plate of crackers, cheese, and pickles. But underneath the humor, there’s a normalization of undereating and skipping meals, especially among women. When “girl dinner” becomes a pattern — not just a lazy Tuesday — it can reinforce disordered eating behaviors masked as convenience or aesthetic.
When It Crosses Into Eating Disorder Territory
While trends like “girl dinner” and “almond mom” might reflect disordered eating, other content clearly falls into eating disorder territory.
“It Girl” Routines
Often labeled as motivational, these routines highlight hyper-productivity, intense workouts, and hyper-restrictive eating. A typical video might show a creator running 10+ miles and refueling with… 2 scrambled eggs and a handful of grapes. It’s marketed as wellness, but it’s deeply rooted in control and deprivation — hallmarks of eating disorder behavior.
Body Check Content
These videos often show dramatic “before and after” body transformations, fast weight loss, or daily clips of someone showing off their physique from specific angles. These visuals frequently stem from — or trigger — restrictive, obsessive, or binge-purge cycles. While not all body check content is explicitly ED-related, it often glamorizes or celebrates symptoms of serious mental health struggles.
So, What’s the Difference?
Disordered eating and eating disorders exist on the same spectrum — but they show up differently:
Disordered Eating
Situational or intermittent
Often praised by others (“you’re so disciplined!”)
May seem casual or “not a big deal”
Influenced by trends and social pressures
Ex: skipping meals occasionally, overexercising after eating “too much,” restricting before a vacation
Eating Disorder
Chronic, persistent patterns
Often hidden or stigmatized
Recognized as a diagnosable mental illness
Deeper psychological and emotional roots
Ex: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, OSFED
Let’s be clear: both are harmful. Disordered eating doesn’t have to be “severe enough” to deserve support. In fact, many eating disorders start with normalized disordered habits that are overlooked, praised, or brushed off.
What’s unique about Gen Z is that we’re growing up in a digital world that constantly sends mixed messages about bodies, food, and worth. One scroll on TikTok can show you both a dietitian talking about intuitive eating and a body check video with 500k likes. The line between “wellness” and “restriction” is blurry.
But here’s the thing: you don’t have to wait for things to get “bad enough” to ask for help. If food feels like a source of stress, shame, or obsession — that’s valid. And you deserve support.