Stealing food (or other resources) is not unusual behaviorif your body is in an energy deficit.
- laelatkinson
- 36 minutes ago
- 1 min read
When our bodies are in an energy deficit (i.e., don't have enough calories), our brains interpret that to mean that resources are scarce (even if they aren't), and we can feel compelled to steal food and other resources. It can feel incredibly confusing and shameful to find yourself stealing food (and maybe other things too), if you don't know that it is an understandable and not uncommon aspect of dieting/disordered eating.
When my disordered eating first began in high school, I stole food and clothes. I was so ashamed, and it took me years to admit that to even one close friend. And even then, I did not yet understand what had driven me to act in a way that was so out of alignment with my values. It was only when I began learning about how dieting/disordered eating affects our bodies and brains that I was finally able to understand what had been happening.
If you have ever engaged in this behavior, there is nothing wrong with you. Your body was just trying to help you survive.