Counting calories vs. eating disorder

HakunaMatata137 wrote: »

The line between healthy weight loss/ calorie counting, and an “eating disorder” is something I’ve always struggled with.
How do you know that what you’re doing is healthy, mindful eating versus an unhealthy obsession with calories and/or excercise?

Speaking as a retired mental health professional -- disorders (including eating disorders) are defined operationally: put simply, if they're causing problems in your life, they're disorders. That means they're interfering with your ability to lead a normal, productive, happy life, or they're having a significant impact on finances, your involvement in other behaviors, your physical health, and/or relationships. Checking the stove before you go to bed is not a sign of a mental disorder. Checking the stove a hundred times before going to bed likely is a sign of a mental disorder. Buying a lottery ticket every week is not a sign of a mental disorder. Spending half your salary every week on lottery tickets likely is a sign of a mental disorder.

With regard to calorie counting, exercise and weight loss -- if you are worried about it, you might want to consult with a therapist who is experienced with eating disorders for an evaluation. A professional can give you an objective assessment of your risk.