The Intersection Between Eating Disorders and OCD

By: Olivia Kline, EDC Administrative Assistant

Eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are often discussed separately, but in reality, they frequently overlap. Many people are surprised to learn just how similar eating disorders and OCD can be at their core. Both involve intrusive, distressing thoughts and compulsive behaviors aimed at easing anxiety. Unfortunately, while these behaviors may bring short-term relief, they tend to worsen symptoms over time.


How Eating Disorders and OCD Overlap

Eating disorders often involve intense focus on food, body size, weight, and/or exercise (though not everyone experiences all of these). Individuals typically struggle with persistent eating-disorder-related thoughts paired with compulsive behaviors such as restricting, bingeing, purging, or excessive exercise.

OCD, on the other hand, is characterized by intrusive thoughts, images, or urges followed by mental or physical compulsions meant to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes.

While the themes may differ, the underlying cycle is often the same:

intrusive thoughts → anxiety → compulsive behavior → temporary relief → increased distress

It’s important to emphasize that eating disorders and OCD are mental health conditions, not choices. Many behaviors associated with these disorders function as attempts to feel safe, cope with uncertainty, manage trauma, or regulate overwhelming emotions. Unfortunately, these attempts often backfire, leaving individuals feeling exhausted, trapped, and discouraged.

For some people, eating disorders and OCD symptoms become tightly intertwined, with each condition fueling the other.


Helpful Strategies for Managing Both an Eating Disorder and OCD

1. Reduce reassurance-seeking behaviors

Reassurance-seeking is extremely common in both eating disorders and OCD. Examples include:

• Repeatedly asking a loved one, “Do I look like I’ve gained weight?”
• Asking a friend over and over, “Do you think I studied enough?”
  
  

While reassurance can feel comforting in the moment, it ultimately strengthens anxiety and keeps both disorders going.

Loved ones can help by responding with empathy instead of reassurance. For example:
“It sounds like these thoughts are really loud right now. I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time.”

Learning to tolerate and lean into uncertainty—and resisting the urge to seek reassurance—is a key part of recovery.

You might instead say to yourself when the thoughts are swirling, “It’s ok not to know. I can lean into uncertainty.”


2. Practice non-engagement with intrusive thoughts

When eating disorder thoughts or OCD thoughts feel overwhelming, non-engagement responses can feel hard. Still, with consistent practice, it becomes more natural over time.

Non-engagement means acknowledging the presence of a thought without arguing with it, obeying it, or trying to make it go away.

Example:

• OCD: “If you don’t touch the doorknob, your boss will fire you.”
  Response: “I notice that anxiety is really loud right now.”
  
  
• OCD: “If you lose your job, everything will fall apart.”
  Response: “Maybe that could happen. Maybe it won’t.”
  
  
• OCD: “You have to touch it.”
  Response: “I don’t have total control over outcomes, and I can accept that.”
  
  

The goal isn’t to feel calm—it’s to stop feeding the cycle.


3. Work with a therapist who specializes in both conditions

Treating co-occurring eating disorders and OCD requires specialized training and experience. While many therapists are well-intentioned, working without proper expertise can unintentionally reinforce unhelpful patterns such as excessive rumination or reassurance during sessions.

A therapist trained in evidence-based approaches for both eating disorders and OCD can help identify how these conditions interact and guide treatment in a way that supports lasting change. Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C and Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C are clinicians here at The Eating Disorder Center who have specialized training and experience working with those with OCD and eating disorders. They can provide support for each of these as standalone issues or those struggling with the intersection of the two. 


Final Thoughts

Living with both an eating disorder and OCD can feel overwhelming and isolating, but recovery is possible. With the right support, skills, and therapeutic approach, individuals can learn to disengage from compulsive cycles and build a more flexible, values-driven life.

If you or someone you love is struggling, know that you’re not alone—and help is available.

Interested in OCD and Eating Disorder Therapy at The Eating Disorder Center?

At The Eating Disorder Center in Boca Raton, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C and Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C provide virtual therapy throughout the state of Florida and are OCD specialists on our team! Reach out to us via our contact form or call us at 301-246-6856 to get started with a free 15-minute consultation with an eating disorder specialist. We are happy to answer any questions you have and provide more information about our center or the clinicians on the team! 

Interested in additional help beyond therapy?
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If you’re looking for more help to supplement therapy, we offer eating disorder recovery coaching. Coaching can be a great addition to your treatment, and it can be a game-changer during recovery! Our coaches, Javoni Cobb, MA and ​Sarah Baginski, MSW are here to help you in your journey to finding freedom from food and body obsession.

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Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in FL, or recovery coaching worldwide.

​Click here.

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Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton  is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, and Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida. ​