Before we get to the eating disorder recovery quotes that have been curated to inspire and offer warm comforting support to any of us who struggle with eating disorders or disordered eating, there are some facts to cover.
Women see between 400 and 600 advertisements every single day. An average seventeen-year-old girl has seen over 250,000 ads. That is 40 to 50 million ads by the age of 60.
It’s no wonder that eating disorders have risen by 400% since 1970, and, according to an ongoing study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 40% of nine and ten-year-old girls have tried to lose weight.
These are heartbreaking statistics.
More importantly, these statistics are our lives. These girls were us, are us, and are being raised by us. This is why national eating disorder awareness week exists.
Human bodies come in all shapes a sizes but the ideal of what’s acceptable and what’s not is contained within a tiny little box.
There is no one way or right way to have a body.
We are constantly, relentlessly told that we are not worthy, beautiful, or adequate if we don’t fit into this small box.
This destroys our body image.
More critical than the sheer number of ads we are exposed to is the impact they have and their misrepresentation of reality.
Models are 23% lower weight than the average woman. They spend much of their time performing femininity; focusing on their appearance and undergoing treatments and procedures to alter their natural appearance.
These women in no way represent reality and often have bad body image themselves.
On top of this, the images we see of models and celebrities are altered further with photo manipulation.
Even “candid” photos on the red carpet are manipulated; smoothed, tucked, and slimmed. The end result is not even close to reality. Read more about body image in this article on Body Acceptance.
I hope these eating disorder recovery quotes will help you feel supported and unconditionally accepted for who are are, where you are, right now. Not in the future, not once you are “better” or “recovered” but right now.
Meet yourself where you are so you can be a friend to yourself.
Resources for Eating Disorder Recovery
If you need help, you can call the National Eating Disorders hotline at (800) 931-2237.
How to stop binge eating through mindfulness, psychotherapy, and understanding the root cause (INSIDER article in which I interviewed Dr. Howard Farkas, author of 8 Keys to End Emotional Eating)
Do I have binge eating disorder? The warning signs and risk factors (INSIDER article in which I interviewed behaviour therapist Molly Carmel, author of Breaking Up With Sugar)
How to stop emotional eating by identifying the cause and keeping a food journal (INSIDER article in which I interview Jennifer Hollinshead, a registered clinical counselor, and founder and clinical director at Peak Resilience.
How to lose weight and keep it off in a healthy, effective way (INSIDER article in which I interviewed registered dietitian Brian St. Pierre, Precision Nutrition’s Director of Performance Nutrition — PN is also where I studied nutrition)
How to Stop Eating Junk Food Using Neuro Linguistic Programming
If you like this, you’ll love these Ted Talks on Loving Yourself.
Enjoy these eating disorder recovery quotes!
1. Recovery requires active participation…
2. Eating disorder recovery is not linear…
3. Eating disorder recovery takes courage…
4. Body confidence is a must…
5. Eating disorder recovery is all about healthy control…
6. Make good decisions become automatic…
7. Recognize that perfectionism is a myth…
8. Learn from your experience…
9. Eating disorder recovery is about knowing yourself…
10. Recognize that eating is supposed to be enjoyable…
11. Eating disorder recovery is about focusing on the right stuff…
12. Know that this isn’t a life sentance…
13. This eating disorder recovery quote can become your new mantra…
14. You are more than the sum of your parts…
15. Remember how edited the world is…
16. Remember you are strong enough…
17. Eating disorder recovery is about being honest about your intentions…
18. Hold on to your life…
19. Know you have the strength to recover…
20. Remember that thinness is keeping you subservient…
21. Eating disorder recovery starts with a decision…
22. Remember you are a fighter…
23. Recognize that eating disorders are irrational…
24. Remember to avoid anyone who makes you feel unworthy…
25. Remember you are not alone!
26. Eating disorder recovery is is a combination of hope and action…
27. Eating disorder recovery is about finding your inner motivation…
28. You need to choose…
Some important information to go with these eating disorder recovery quotes
Eating disorders occur along a spectrum. “Normal” eating means someone listens to their body’s cues for hunger and fullness.
The other side of the spectrum are clinical disorders including:
- Anorexia Nervosa —extremely restrictive
calorie intake and intense fear of gaining weight despite dramatic weight
loss. Anorexia nervosa is possible no matter what your body type. - Bulimia Nervosa—consuming a large
amount of food within a short time frame, followed by
compensatory behaviours to “get rid” of the calories such as forced vomiting, abusing laxatives, obsessive exercise, and fasting. - Binge Eating Disorder—the most common eating disorder, in which one consumes a large amount of food in a short time frame but without using compensatory behaviours afterwards.
- Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
— includes symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, or binge
eating disorder without being strictly one type. - Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), —
similar to anorexia since it limits food type and amount but ARFID is not due to
body dissatisfaction or a fear of getting fat. - Orthorexia (a type of AFRID) an obsession with eating healthy to the point where it interferes with your quality of life. This often includes people on highly restrictive diets like veganism, intermittent fasting, and keto. It is also very common among bodybuilders/fitness models.
