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Eating Disorder Causes: Understanding the Link Between EDs and Self-Esteem

Oct 31, 2024 | Self-Esteem, Eating Distoders

Forward, Together with western tidewater community services board

In the US, around 28.8 million people will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

If you or someone you care about is going through this, just remember—you’re not alone. There’s a supportive community out there ready to help you every step of the way.

With the right therapist or counselor, recovery isn’t just possible—it can lead to a healthier, more fulfilled future.

But before we can truly heal, it’s important to find out what’s causing our unhealthy relationship with food. The root of the issue usually goes a lot deeper than the food itself, reflecting a poor sense of self-esteem. 

This goes beyond simply how we view ourselves in the mirror (or our self-image)—it’s about how we feel deep down about our worth and value as people.

Here, we’ll take a closer look at how self-esteem is deeply connected with eating disorders and the emotions that often fuel them.

We’ll also explore how therapy can be a gentle yet powerful space for healing. A way to rebuild your sense of self and find new paths toward a happier life and healthier relationship with food.

The link between eating disorders and self-esteem

A lot of people assume that eating disorders are just about food, dieting, or physical appearance. So when they see someone struggling, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that they’re just really focused on their looks. 

But the reality is much deeper than that. The reasons behind eating disorders often touch on emotional struggles that go well beyond what meets the eye.

When someone doesn’t feel good enough or worthy of love, it can be deeply upsetting and painfully isolating. Desperate to feel they have some control over their situation, they may turn to unhealthy eating behaviors with food like restricting calories, bingeing, or purging. 

Related: Self-harm is not always visible

In this way, disordered eating becomes an emotional crutch for those deeper unresolved negative feelings about themselves.

For many people, eating disorders become a way to cope with feeling out of control in other areas of their lives, too. When things get overwhelming, controlling their food intake or eating habits can offer a temporary sense of relief or comfort—a way to feel like they’re regaining control, even if it’s just for a moment.

But this often comes at a high cost. In the long run, the feelings of guilt and shame associated with eating disorders can actually worsen self-esteem—which, in turn, can worsen the disorder. 

If you or a loved one feel trapped in this cycle, you’re not alone, and there’s help available. Reach out to us today if you’re ready, or read on to learn more about the causes of poor self-esteem and how you can heal.

What causes poor self-esteem

Now that we understand the link between eating disorders and poor self-esteem, let’s explore what actually causes low self-esteem in the first place.

Related: Self-esteem and mental health

  • Childhood trauma: Going through things like bullying, abuse, or neglect as a child can really mess with your self-worth into adulthood.
  • Critical upbringing: Growing up in a home where you were rarely praised and often criticized can leave you feeling like you’re never enough.
  • Social comparison: Constantly comparing yourself to others—especially on social media—can make you feel inferior.
  • Perfectionism: Setting impossibly high standards for yourself leaves you feeling like you’ve failed when you’re unable to reach them.
  • Unrealistic expectations: Society’s ideas of beauty, success, and intelligence can sink in early, making you feel like you don’t measure up.
  • Failure or setbacks: Whether it’s in school, work, or relationships, facing failures can chip away at your confidence.
  • Mental health issues: Battling anxiety, depression, or other mental disorders can twist how you see yourself, resulting in a distorted body image or sense of self worth.
  • Lack of support: Feeling isolated or lacking a strong support system can make those feelings of worthlessness even worse.
  • Trauma: Going through tough, traumatic experiences can create deep-rooted feelings of inadequacy, shame, and unworthiness, which can impact eating behaviors.

Therapy: Your path to healing

Recovering from an eating disorder takes time. It’s a slow process, but with the right support, especially through therapy, many people find peace with themselves and their bodies.

Healing means more than just replacing unhealthy eating habits with healthier ones. It’s about learning to love and care for yourself. It’s about handling life’s challenges without turning to harmful habits. And it also means allowing yourself to take up space, just as you are.

Eating disorder therapy helps untangle the emotions that keep you stuck in disordered eating. By building a healthier relationship with yourself and with food, you can break free of the negative cycle and move toward a more balanced, fulfilling life.

Wrapping up

If you or someone you care about is dealing with an eating disorder, it’s important to understand that it all starts with poor self-esteem. The good news? There’s support out there when you need it.

The first step to recovery is figuring out what’s happening beneath the surface. Therapy is a great place for that, giving you the space you need to dig deep and start breaking those unhealthy patterns.

Healing is all about learning to value yourself for who you are, not just how you look or what you eat. And know, you’re not alone—there’s a whole community here to support you through it.

Get the eating disorder support you need

Western Tidewater Community Services Board (WTCSB) is the local authority on mental health for the citizens of Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County, and Isle of Wight County in Virginia. 

We’re here to support anyone dealing with mental health challenges, including common eating disorders like bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and restrictive food intake disorder. Our goal is to help you build a healthier relationship with food and yourself by getting to the roots of the issue—like self-esteem, body image, weight gain triggers, and emotional factors at play.

The WTCSB counseling staff are well trained, highly experienced, and deeply caring people with a creative and thorough approach to care.

Reach out to us today to start your journey towards emotional well-being. You can also access our 24-hour emergency line at (757) 925-2484.

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