A seemingly humorous post on Reddit about a wife's unusual eating habits has sparked a significant online conversation, shifting from initial ridicule to genuine concern about potential disordered eating behaviours.
From Internet Jokes to Serious Concerns
A husband shared images that left the online community baffled: slices of pizza with only the cheese eaten and chicken wings stripped of their skin. He explained his wife's strict dietary rules prevented her from consuming anything more. 'My wife only eats the skin and cheese. Her "diet" doesn't allow her to eat more,' he wrote.
The post initially triggered a wave of internet humour. Commenters compared the wife to Eric Cartman from South Park, who infamously ate only the skin from KFC chicken. Others quipped about the diet being 'cholesterol' or joked that the husband had 'married a small rodent.' Many mockingly called for a collective divorce from the stranger's wife.
A Pattern of Bizarre Food Behaviours
This incident mirrors another recent viral Reddit thread where a man described his wife's 'infuriating' habit of placing used eggshells back into the carton. He shared a video showing him cracking open seemingly intact eggs, only to find hollow shells, turning breakfast into a 'psychological endurance test.'
However, as the images of the barely-touched pizza and chicken circulated, the tone in the comments underwent a stark transformation. Users began to highlight the potential seriousness behind the seemingly odd behaviour.
Recognising the Red Flags of Disordered Eating
A growing number of commenters urged the husband to view the actions not as a joke but as a potential warning sign. They pointed out that eating only small, highly controlled portions of food—even if they are indulgent items like cheese and skin—can indicate a problematic relationship with food.
'You should be concerned. Despite it seeming like she's eating the fattiest parts, this often means someone is only allowing themselves a taste. They can't justify the whole meal, but they can justify just enough. That's disordered eating,' one user advised.
Others shared personal anecdotes, stating the leftovers looked eerily familiar. 'My wife has an eating disorder and her plates often looked exactly like this,' one person revealed. Another added, 'My brother used to do this exact thing. We laughed at the time. Turned out he had an eating disorder.'
Health professionals consistently warn that eating disorders don't always present with extreme weight loss. They can be concealed behind rigid food rules framed as dieting, personal preferences, or lifestyle choices, such as avoiding bread, meat, or 'filling' components of a meal.
The overwhelming conclusion from the discussion was one of empathy and concern. While users avoided diagnosing a stranger online, the consensus highlighted the importance of recognising hidden signs and seeking professional support. If you or someone you know is struggling with food or body image, confidential help is available through organisations like the Butterfly Foundation.
