DR MARIANNE MILLER
CARING EATING DISORDER TREATMENT IN SAN DIEGO AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON D.C. FOR ADULTS & TEENS
Autism & Anorexia: When Masking Looks Like Restriction, and Recovery Feels Unsafe
What if restrictive behaviors instead reflect a way to survive a world that overwhelms your nervous system?
For many autistic people, anorexia is misunderstood. It’s not always about thinness or body image. Restriction can serve as a way to manage sensory overload, social pressure, and the exhausting demands of masking.
Atypical Anorexia Explained: Why Restriction Happens at Every Body Size
When most people hear the word anorexia, they picture someone who is very thin—often white, young, and female. This image has been reinforced for decades by media, medical training, and diet culture. But the reality is much broader, and far more people live with anorexia than the stereotype suggests.
One eating disorder category that challenges this outdated image is atypical anorexia. The name might imply that it is rare, but in truth, there is nothing “atypical” about it. Restriction can—and does—happen in every body size.