Eating Disorders Glossary (A–Z)

Clear, gentle definitions for eating disorders and related support terms — written in plain language for teens, adults, families, and professionals.

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Gentle note: This page includes terms about eating disorders, body image, and distress in a non-graphic, educational way. You can skim, pause, or use the search bar to focus only on what you need today.

What this glossary is for

To help you understand common words used in health visits, therapy, school supports, and everyday conversations — without shame or judgement.

Quick tip

If a term feels confusing, you can ask: “Can you explain that in plain language?” or “What does that mean for me?”

Common eating disorder types (quick view)

Type	Plain-language description
Anorexia nervosa	Restriction of food and intense fear of weight gain; may include low weight and strong body-image distress.
Bulimia nervosa	Cycles of binge eating followed by compensating behaviours (e.g., vomiting, laxatives, over-exercise).
Binge-eating disorder	Repeated binge episodes with loss of control, usually without regular compensating behaviours.
ARFID	Restricted eating due to sensory, fear-based, or low-interest reasons (not driven by body image).
OSFED	Clinically significant symptoms that don’t fit one category neatly, but still need care and support.

Helpful support language (quick view)

Try saying…	Instead of…
“You deserve support and you’re not alone.”	“Just eat / just stop.”
“That sounds hard — how can I help?”	“You look fine.”
“Would it help to eat together or plan a safe snack?”	“Why are you being difficult?”
“Your worth isn’t tied to food or weight.”	Weight comments or body comparisons

Letter A

Anorexia nervosa: Restrictive eating with intense fear of weight gain and strong body-image distress; can be medically serious at any size.

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder): Restricted eating due to sensory differences, fear of choking/vomiting, or low interest in food — not driven by body image. Example: “Certain textures feel impossible, so my diet becomes very limited.”

Acute medical risk: A situation where the body is under strain (e.g., dehydration, fainting, heart rhythm concerns) and urgent care may be needed.

Letter B

Binge eating: Eating a large amount of food with a sense of loss of control. Binges often happen alongside shame or distress.

Binge-eating disorder (BED): Repeated binge episodes with loss of control and distress, usually without regular compensating behaviours.

Body checking: Repeatedly checking shape/size (mirrors, pinching, measuring, photos) to reduce anxiety — often increases anxiety over time.

Body image: How someone experiences their body in thoughts, feelings, and beliefs (not the same as how a body “actually looks”).

Letter C

Compensating behaviours: Actions aimed at “undoing” eating (vomiting, laxatives, fasting, over-exercising). These can be dangerous and reinforce the disorder.

Calorie counting: Tracking energy intake; can become rigid or obsessive and may increase anxiety or restriction.

Cognitive distortion: A thinking trap (e.g., all-or-nothing) that can intensify body and food fears.

Co-occurring conditions: Other experiences present alongside an ED (anxiety, OCD traits, trauma, autism/ADHD, depression).

Letter D

Diet culture: Social messages that praise weight loss and “clean eating,” often linking worth to body size and food rules.

Dehydration: Not enough fluid in the body; may show as dizziness, headaches, dark urine, or fainting.

Disordered eating: Harmful patterns around food/body that may not meet diagnostic criteria but still deserve support.

Distress tolerance: Skills for getting through hard feelings without harmful coping (urge surfing, grounding, paced breathing).

Letter E

Electrolytes: Minerals (like potassium, sodium) that help the heart and nerves work. Purging can disrupt them and become dangerous.

Exposure (food exposure): Practicing eating feared foods in small, supported steps to reduce fear over time.

ED voice: A shorthand for the harsh, rule-driven thoughts that push the disorder (not a literal voice).

Emotional eating: Eating as a response to emotions. This is common and not “bad,” but can feel distressing if it becomes the only coping tool.

Letter F

Fasting: Skipping food for long periods. In ED recovery, fasting often increases binge risk and nervous system stress.

Fear foods: Foods that cause anxiety due to rules, shame, or body fears.

Food rules: Rigid beliefs like “I can’t eat after 6pm.” Rules can shrink life and increase distress.

Letter G

GI distress: Stomach discomfort (bloating, cramps, reflux). This can happen in restriction and also during re-feeding.

Grounding: Skills that help you return to the present (5–4–3–2–1, cold water, sensory objects).

Guilt: A painful feeling that can show up after eating; compassion-based strategies can help loosen guilt’s grip.

Letter H

Harm reduction: Safer-step supports when full recovery feels too far away (e.g., reducing purging frequency, adding hydration, seeking medical checks).

Health at Every Size (HAES): An approach focusing on health behaviours and access to care, not weight as the main measure of worth or wellness.

Hyperfocus (food/weight): Intense focus on food, rules, weight, or tracking — can be linked to anxiety, OCD traits, or neurodivergence.

Letter I

Intuitive eating: A framework for rebuilding trust in hunger/fullness and reducing diet rules; often adapted in ED recovery with professional support.

Internalised weight stigma: Believing negative messages about weight and applying them to yourself.

Interoception: Noticing inner body signals (hunger, fullness, nausea, anxiety). EDs can disrupt these signals.

Letter J

Judgement-free support: Care that avoids blame and focuses on safety, coping, and understanding.

Journal prompts (recovery): Guided questions to explore triggers, values, and coping plans — used carefully so it doesn’t become obsessive tracking.

Letter K

Ketosis: A body state that can occur with low carbohydrate intake or starvation; in ED contexts it can be a sign the body is under-fuelled.

Keep-safe plan: A simple plan for what to do if urges or distress spike (people to contact, coping tools, emergency steps).

Letter L

Laxative misuse: Using laxatives to try to change weight/shape. This can harm the gut and electrolytes and doesn’t remove most calories.

Low energy availability: Not enough fuel for the body’s needs; can affect mood, focus, hormones, bones, and heart.

Life interference: When ED thoughts/behaviours shrink school, friendships, hobbies, and daily functioning.

Letter M

Meal plan (recovery): A structured eating guide to support stability and reduce decision stress while rebuilding body trust.

Malnutrition: Not getting enough nutrients or energy — can happen at any body size.

Medical monitoring: Checks like blood pressure, pulse, blood tests, ECG, hydration, and weight trends (when appropriate and safely handled).

Letter N

Nourishment: Food and fluids that support energy, growth, and brain/body function — not “earned.”

Neurodivergence and EDs: Autism/ADHD traits (sensory differences, rigidity, interoception) can shape ED experiences and support needs.

Letter O

OSFED: Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder — significant symptoms that don’t fit one “classic” label, but still require care.

Orthorexia (not an official diagnosis in DSM): An intense fixation on “healthy/clean” eating that becomes rigid and harms health or daily life.

Over-exercise: Exercise driven by anxiety, guilt, or compulsion rather than wellbeing; may continue despite injury or exhaustion.

Letter P

Purging: Behaviours intended to “get rid of” food (vomiting, laxatives, diuretics). Can seriously affect the heart and electrolytes.

Perfectionism: A trait linked to ED risk where “not perfect” feels unsafe; therapy can help soften rigid standards.

Pathway to care: The steps to get support (GP, referral, dietitian, therapist, specialist services).

Letter Q

Quality of life: How life feels overall (energy, relationships, school/work, enjoyment). Recovery often focuses on improving quality of life.

Question prompts (appointments): Prepared questions that help you advocate for yourself (treatment options, safety checks, what’s next).

Letter R

Re-feeding: Gradually increasing nutrition after restriction. May include medical support to prevent complications.

Re-feeding syndrome: A potentially dangerous shift in fluids/electrolytes when nutrition increases after starvation; requires medical monitoring.

Relapse: A return of ED symptoms after improvement. It’s not failure — it’s information that more support is needed.

Recovery: Building safety and flexibility around food/body, reducing ED behaviours, and reconnecting with life and values.

Letter S

Starvation response: Body/brain changes when under-fuelled (obsessive thoughts about food, low mood, irritability, anxiety).

Set point: The body’s natural range where it functions best; dieting can push the body into stress and rebound patterns.

Shame: A painful belief of being “bad.” Shame reduces help-seeking; compassion-based support can reduce shame.

Safety plan: A plan for moments of risk (who to contact, crisis services, safe steps). Helpful for ED distress + self-harm risk.

Letter T

Triggers: Events, feelings, comments, or situations that increase urges (stress, bullying, diet talk, sensory overload).

Trauma-informed care: Care that prioritises safety, choice, collaboration, and empowerment — recognising the impact of trauma.

Treatment team: May include GP, therapist, dietitian, psychiatrist, school support, and family/whānau.

Letter U

Urge surfing: A skill to ride out urges like a wave: notice, breathe, delay, do a safer action, reassess.

Under-fuelling: Not eating enough for the body’s needs; can look like fatigue, irritability, coldness, poor focus, injuries.

Letter V

Values-based recovery: Using what matters to you (friends, creativity, study, faith, sport, family) as motivation for healing.

Vital signs: Health measures like pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen levels; EDs can impact these.

Letter W

Weight stigma: Bias and discrimination based on body size. It can worsen ED risk and reduce safe access to care.

Wellbeing plan: A supportive routine plan: meals/snacks, hydration, sleep, movement, coping tools, and check-ins.

Letter X

Xerostomia (dry mouth): Dry mouth can occur with dehydration, vomiting, or some medications; dental care may be important.

Letter Y

Yo-yo dieting: Repeated cycles of dieting and regain; can increase body stress and reinforce disordered patterns.

Your pace: Recovery is not linear. Going at a supported pace is still progress.

Letter Z

Zero judgement support: Support that focuses on safety, dignity, and small steps — not blame or “shoulds.”

If you need support right now

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. If you’re not sure what to do, reaching out to a trusted person or a crisis line is a strong next step.

New Zealand: Call or text 1737 (free, 24/7) to talk with a trained counsellor.
NZ emergency: Call 111 if you or someone else is in danger.
Find local help worldwide: Search “crisis line” + your country/region, or use trusted directories in your area.
Eating disorder support: If you have a GP/primary care doctor, asking for a referral is a good starting step.

Helpful phrase: “I’m struggling with eating and body thoughts, and I need support. Can you help me with next steps?”

Eating Disorders Glossary A-Z