Restricting Eating Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and Recovery
- Dr Sara Parsi di Landrone
- Jun 13, 2025
- 3 min read
Understanding Eating Disorders
Restricting Eating Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and Recovery
Signs, Symptoms, and Support
Restricting eating disorders involve a persistent pattern of limiting food intake that can significantly affect physical health, emotional wellbeing, and daily functioning. These patterns may be driven by concerns about weight, shape, health, control, or safety around food.
Restrictive eating can present in different ways and may overlap with anxiety, neurodivergence, or other mental health difficulties. Early understanding and appropriate support can make a meaningful difference.
What are restricting eating disorders?
Restricting eating disorders are characterised by ongoing restriction of food quantity, variety, or both. This restriction is not always visible and does not always align with common stereotypes.
People may experience:
Strong fear or anxiety around eating
Rigid rules about food, timing, or portion size
A sense of control or relief linked to restriction
Increasing difficulty eating flexibly or socially
Restriction can become more entrenched over time and may continue even when health is affected.
Common signs and symptoms
Not everyone will experience all of the following, and signs may vary depending on the individual.
Restrictive eating patterns
Eating significantly less than the body requires
Avoiding specific food groups or meals
Developing rigid or ritualised eating behaviours
Fear related to weight, shape, or eating
Ongoing worry about weight gain or body changes
High levels of anxiety when eating feels unpredictable
Difficulty responding to hunger or fullness cues
Changes in body perception
Feeling “out of proportion” or uncomfortable in the body
Difficulty recognising physical changes accurately
Physical effects
Fatigue, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating
Feeling cold frequently
Hair, skin, or nail changes
Disrupted hormonal or digestive functioning
Emotional and social impact
Increased anxiety, low mood, or irritability
Avoidance of meals with others
Withdrawal from social or family situations involving food
Different presentations of restrictive eating
Restrictive eating can occur across several recognised eating disorder presentations.
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa involves persistent food restriction alongside fear of weight gain and a disturbed experience of body shape or weight. Restriction may occur on its own or alongside other behaviours, depending on the individual.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
ARFID involves restriction that is not driven by weight or shape concerns. Food avoidance may relate to sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences (such as choking), or lack of interest in eating.
Restrictive patterns within other difficulties
Restrictive eating can also occur alongside anxiety disorders, trauma, obsessive-compulsive traits, or neurodivergence, and may not fit neatly into a single diagnostic category.
A careful assessment is important to understand what is driving restriction for each person.
How restrictive eating is supported
Support for restrictive eating disorders is individualised and guided by a comprehensive assessment. Treatment focuses on restoring physical health while also addressing the emotional and psychological factors involved.
Approaches may include:
Psychological therapy
Therapy can help explore beliefs about food, safety, control, and self-worth, and support more flexible and compassionate patterns over time.
Dietetic support
Working with a specialist dietitian can help:
Restore nutritional balance
Reduce fear around eating
Rebuild trust in bodily cues
Medical monitoring
Where restriction has affected physical health, medical monitoring may be needed to ensure safety and address complications.
Family or carer involvement
For some individuals, involving family or carers can provide additional support, particularly where eating difficulties affect daily routines or relationships.
Emotional regulation and anxiety support
Strategies to support emotional regulation may be helpful, particularly where restriction is linked to anxiety or distress.
When to seek professional help
If restrictive eating patterns are persistent, worsening, or beginning to affect health, mood, or daily life, professional input can be helpful. You do not need to be certain about a diagnosis to seek support.
Early assessment can clarify what is happening and identify appropriate next steps.
How we can help
At The Eating Disorders Clinic, we provide assessment-led, multidisciplinary support for people experiencing restrictive eating and related difficulties. Our approach is collaborative, neurodiversity-informed, and tailored to the individual.
Support is paced carefully and focused on long-term wellbeing rather than quick fixes.
A gentle next step
If you would like to talk through concerns or explore whether support may be helpful, you are welcome to book a free initial call with our team.
You can also review our webpage to understand how we work before deciding on next steps.
Author: Dr. Sara Parsi – Clinical Director, Lead Psychologist at the Eating Disorders Clinic
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