Can I still have an eating disorder if I am considered as obese or overweight?

Absolutely! I believe that an eating disorder is more about frame of mind and behaviors than about an actual weight. There is an obsession with food (whether it's avoiding eating, engaging in binge eating, planning times to purge, an addiction to eating, or other types of obsessions). And, there is often behaviors that go along with the thoughts such as purging or excessive exercise or taking extreme measures to get certain foods and/or avoid certain foods. Finally, I think there is usually a dissatisfaction with one's body image and, often, an unrealistic view of what "healthy" is. We live in a society where people strive to be a size zero or two and that's not necessarily realistic or healthy for everyone.

Yes. eating disorder is more mental disorders that defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health.

yes, a person can still have an eating disorder if they are considered as obese or overweight. eating disorders are mental disorders and are a large spectrum. there is no such thing as being "not sick enough" to get help.

Weight, whether over or underweight is irrelevant to an eating disorder. It can happen to anyone of any size, age, race, gender or health status. If you feel you have an eating disorder, one of the main steps would be to see a medical professional so that they can properly diagnose the situation and further assist you with the help you may need.

You certainly can. It is a misconception that the only eating disorder is anorexia and that is only for "skinny" people. I have struggled with weight my entire life and still have a BMI over 30. I have what is called Anorexia Athletic (or Exercise anorexia). I have to be very careful or I become obsessed with dieting and food. Every time I eat I would feel that I should go workout to work it off. It has a taken quite a while to try and address this and it is still an urge that I fight (although I still work out two hours everyday - I do not let myself workout again after eating like I would like to do). I have great endurance and am medically healthy but am still obese. There are many different types of eating disorders that people can have - no matter their weight.

Some of these answers are excellent, but I'd like to respond without referring to any clinical statistics or volumes. I had an ED for almost 15 years. Weight changes are only the physical and visible manifestation of what an ED puts you through - because it's visible, this is the part that gets focused on, and the only part people feel able to relate to. It's quite disappointing (and sadly ironic) that even the diagnosis of ED is made solely; by some doctors, on a weight or measurement of physicality. Its not uncommon for someone with already disordered eating in bulimia or BED to further punish themselves by feeling that they have 'the wrong' disorder. If you would like to talk your issues through, I'm here to listen. Pandaxia

Yes you can have an eating disorder if you are considered overweight , like binge eating disorder or EDNOS .

Yes, you can. A eating disorder can stem from the fact that your obese or overweight, which may lead you to not liking your self image, and possibly ending up like many other people who have fallen prey to what a eating disorder can do to your body. You don't need to be underweight to have an eating disorder, just follow the signs and treat it right :)

Absolutely. The belief that being extremely skinny is the only type or sign of an eating disorder is a fallacy. Eating disorders come in many shapes, sizes, and types.

Yes! There are many types of eating disorders that affect body and appetite in many different ways! While an anorexia nervosa diagnosis does in many cases require a very low body weight/BMI, there are other eating disorders like Bulimia (which in many cases, coincides with a "normal" body weight), Binge-Eating (which can affect ALL body weights), and EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). A person (man, woman, or anything in between) can show many symptoms of an eating disorder, regardless of where they fall on the BMI scale.