3 Ways Summer Can Be Triggering for Eating Disorders

For some, summer can feel like a breath of fresh air because it brings more daylight, vacations, and time spent outdoors. But for those navigating an eating disorder, summer can bring a unique set of challenges that often go unnoticed by others.

This season’s focus on body exposure, social events centered around food, and disruption to daily routines can all intensify eating disorder thoughts.

For people in recovery and people supporting someone who is, understanding why summer is tough, and how to cope, can make a meaningful difference.

Changing Clothes, Changing Triggers

With warmer weather often comes a wardrobe shift to tank tops, shorts, swimsuits, and more revealing clothing. While these changes may seem minor, they can feel overwhelming for individuals struggling with body image concerns.

Many people often feel exposed or vulnerable during summer months, especially in settings like the beach or pool where comparison and self-consciousness can spike. For those working hard to challenge their eating disorder thoughts, the constant pressure to “look summer-ready” can add an additional layer of distress.

Food-Focused Gatherings

Summer is often full of social events that revolve around food: barbecues, picnics, ice cream outings, camping trips. While these can be joyful for some, they can also be incredibly triggering for people with eating disorders.

Being around large amounts of food, eating in front of others, or not having a say over what is being served can heighten anxiety, particularly when recovery is still new.

The unpredictability of meal options, fear of judgment, or guilt around eating “fun foods” can make these events feel more like obstacles than opportunities to connect.

Routine Disruptions and Mental Health

Many people thrive with structure to their day, this is especially in eating disorder recovery, where meal timing, self-care practices, and regular eating disorder therapy sessions offer support and consistency. During the summer, that structure often changes.

Vacations, school breaks, and shifting schedules can lead to skipped meals, irregular sleep, or missed appointments. Without these anchors, it’s easier for disordered behaviors to creep back in.

Refocusing on Recovery Foundations

Because summer can throw off routines, it’s often a time when clients need to revisit the basics of their recovery. That might include planning balanced meals, journaling to process food-related anxiety, or using coping tools when difficult emotions arise.

It’s also a time to reflect on your “why,” think about the values that matter to you beyond your appearance. Maybe it’s being able to enjoy an ice cream cone with your kids, have the energy to go paddleboarding with friends, or simply sit at a picnic without obsessing over calories.

Your worth isn’t defined by what you wear or how you look in a bathing suit. You’re allowed to take up space. You’re allowed to eat the burger at the barbecue.

You’re allowed to enjoy summer in a way that’s meaningful to you.

Recovery doesn’t take a summer break. But it also doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the season’s beauty. With the right support, you can navigate these months with more ease and less fear.

Let’s Work Through This Together

If summer is especially hard, you’re not alone. As an eating disorder therapist, I support clients in MA, RI, and VT as they navigate recovery in every season. Please reach out if you’re looking for support.