Should You Use Eating Disorder Apps? A Guide to Pros, Cons, and Choosing the Right One
With the rise of digital health solutions, eating disorder recovery is no longer limited to the therapy room. A growing number of smartphone apps now offer support for tracking meals, practicing coping skills, monitoring urges, and building community. For some, these tools offer immediate, private support at the touch of a button. For others, they may risk reinforcing rigid thinking or disordered patterns.
So, should you use an eating disorder app? The answer depends on your needs, your stage of recovery, and the type of app you’re considering.
This post explores the benefits, risks, and recommendations for choosing an app that supports—not sabotages—your recovery.
What Are Eating Disorder Apps?
Eating disorder apps fall into several categories, including:
Meal tracking & planning apps
Recovery-focused journaling or CBT tools
Urge and mood monitoring apps
Coping skill or mindfulness tools
Peer support community apps
Telehealth platforms for provider messaging or session tracking
Some are created specifically for eating disorder recovery, while others (like general mental health or wellness apps) may have features that are helpful in recovery.
Pros of Using Eating Disorder Apps
1. 24/7 Support Between Sessions
Recovery doesn’t only happen during therapy. Many apps offer on-demand prompts, coping strategies, and emotional support when you’re in the middle of a meal, facing a trigger, or struggling with body image.
2. Structure and Accountability
For those in early recovery, structured tools can help:
Remind you to eat at regular intervals
Track emotions and behaviors without judgment
Reinforce new patterns and self-awareness
3. Privacy and Accessibility
Apps are discreet and portable, which is especially helpful for those without access to specialized care or who may feel too ashamed to seek support in person.
4. Connection with Others
Some apps offer peer support, moderated forums, or private messaging, allowing users to feel less alone and more connected to others in recovery.
Cons and Risks of Eating Disorder Apps
1. Can Trigger Perfectionism or Obsessive Tracking
For individuals prone to black-and-white thinking or perfectionism, tracking tools can become compulsive. Logging every bite or emotion may reinforce disordered control rather than support healing.
2. Not All Apps Are Clinically Validated
Many apps are not designed by eating disorder professionals and may include unhelpful, outdated, or even harmful content (e.g., focusing on weight loss, calories, or BMI).
3. Comparison and Competition in Peer Spaces
Unmoderated forums can lead to comparison, triggering posts, or competition around symptoms, especially in more vulnerable users.
4. May Delay or Replace Needed Treatment
Relying solely on an app without professional support may delay proper diagnosis or treatment, especially if the app isn’t linked to a healthcare provider or evidence-based care.
What to Look for in a Recovery-Supportive App
If you're considering using an app as part of your recovery, keep these criteria in mind:
✅ Clinically Developed or Endorsed
Created or approved by eating disorder professionals
Based on evidence-based treatments like CBT, FBT, DBT, or ACT
✅ Focuses on Recovery, Not Weight or Diet
Avoid apps that include calorie counting, weight tracking, or restrictive meal planning
Look for apps that support emotional regulation, body image, and self-compassion
✅ Offers Support, Not Surveillance
Encourages self-reflection without reinforcing guilt or control
Allows flexible use (not rigid logging or shaming reminders)
✅ Prioritizes Privacy and Safety
Clear data privacy policies
Ability to block/report harmful content in community spaces
Secure messaging with providers if applicable
Recommended Apps for Eating Disorder Recovery
While individual needs vary, here are a few apps that have received positive feedback from users and clinicians:
App Best For Features
Recovery Record All stages of recovery Meal tracking, therapist-linked support, CBT tools
Rise Up + Recover Early recovery, self-monitoring Mood & behavior logging, affirmations, goal setting
MindShift CBT Anxiety and co-occurring distress CBT tools, journaling, grounding techniques
Insight Timer Mindfulness and relaxation Guided meditations, body image, self-compassion
Sanvello Depression, anxiety, mood tracking Tools for coping, journaling, tracking progress
Note: These apps are not substitutes for professional treatment, but can be helpful adjuncts.
When an App Might Not Be Right
An app may not be helpful—or could be harmful—if:
You feel compelled to log everything perfectly
It increases guilt, shame, or preoccupation with food
You experience relapse urges after using peer forums
It triggers competition or comparison
You're avoiding necessary medical or therapeutic care
In these cases, talk with a provider about alternative supports.
Final Thoughts
Eating disorder recovery is deeply personal. Some people thrive with the structure and support of an app; others feel restricted or triggered by it. The key is to choose tools that help you connect with your body, emotions, and goals—not ones that pull you back into control, fear, or judgment.
Apps can never replace human connection, but in the right context, they can help bridge the gap between therapy sessions, offer timely support, and remind you that healing is possible.
References
Juarascio, A. S., Manasse, S. M., Espel, H. M., et al. (2015). Integrating technology into treatment for eating disorders. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 22(3), 352–365.
Levinson, C. A., Spoor, S. P., Keshishian, A. C., et al. (2021). Eating disorders in the digital age: A review of technology-based treatment. Current Psychiatry Reports, 23(9), 1–11.
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). (2022). Technology and recovery resources. nationaleatingdisorders.org
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