Early signs of eating disorders that often get brushed off

Eating disorders rarely start loudly. Most begin quietly, woven into everyday routines, stress, and habits that seem easy to explain away. This is one of the biggest reasons eating disorders are often missed, both by others and by the person experiencing them.

Early support matters not because things are severe, but because they do not have to become severe to deserve care.

Emotional signs often appear first

Many early signs show up emotionally before they show up physically. Feeling stressed, anxious, or guilty around food is one of the most common starting points. Food choices may begin to feel heavy or loaded with rules. Meals can feel less like nourishing your body and more like tests you might fail.

Behavioural changes that are easy to overlook

Other early changes are behavioural and easy to rationalize. Skipping meals because of a busy schedule. Avoiding eating with others. Becoming more rigid about when, what, or how much to eat. Spending more time thinking about food, planning meals, or replaying what was eaten earlier in the day.

These patterns often come with increased body focus. People may check their appearance repeatedly, compare themselves more often, or feel distressed by small changes that others do not notice. These moments can feel private and manageable at first, which is why they are so easy to overlook.

Why early signs are often missed

It is important to say this clearly. Missing early signs does not mean someone is careless or in denial. These signs often overlap with stress, dieting culture, fitness goals, or life transitions. Many people assume they just need more discipline, better routines, or fewer emotions. And most importantly, society has normalized many of these unhelpful behaviours.

Why early support matters

What makes early support so important is not fear. It is flexibility. The earlier someone gets support, the easier it is to interrupt patterns before they become deeply ingrained. Early support can reduce distress, prevent escalation, and make recovery feel less overwhelming.

Early support also does not need to be dramatic. It can start with small steps. Talking to someone you trust about what you are noticing. Writing down patterns around food or body image that feel hard. Having an initial conversation with a therapist to make sense of what is going on. Learning more about how eating concerns can show up.

There is no “not sick enough” threshold

There is a persistent myth that people need to reach a certain level of struggle before asking for help. This belief keeps many people stuck longer than they need to be. There is no such thing as “not sick enough to deserve support”. Every level of distress is valid.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is not only about recognizing illness. It is about recognizing moments where support could change the direction of someone’s relationship with food and with themselves. Early signs are not failures. They are information. And information gives us choices.

If any of these patterns feel familiar, it may be worth paying attention. Support adds options, clarity, and relief.

References

National Eating Disorders Association. (2023). Warning signs and symptoms.
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Treasure, J., Duarte, T. A., & Schmidt, U. (2020). Eating disorders. The Lancet, 395(10227), 899–911.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30059-3