At the start of a new year, many people feel a pull toward starting over. The language of resolutions, fresh starts, and getting back on track becomes especially prominent. While this mindset can support behavior change in some contexts, in eating disorders it warrants closer attention.

In eating disorder treatment, this mindset often appears in predictable ways and can support recovery or reinforce the disorder, depending on how it’s used. Eating disorders are closely tied to black and white thinking, perfectionism, and shame. Starting over can feel calming because it creates a sharp line between what feels “bad” or failed and what’s imagined as “good” or fixed.

Patients often describe starting over as a way to undo perceived mistakes rather than tolerate imperfection. Statements like “I’ll reset on Monday” or “I’ll do it right this time” usually reflect an attempt to regain control and reduce internal distress. Importantly, this drive is rarely limited to food. It often reflects a broader wish to become more acceptable, more disciplined, or less emotionally exposed. In that sense, starting........

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