Short answer
No. Having an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating is an illness, not a sin, and Allah knows the pain behind it. Islam does ask you to protect your body, so getting treatment is part of your faith. If fasting feeds the illness, you are excused. If you are in danger, contact emergency services or a crisis line now.
Illness is not a sin, and a sick person is not blamed for their condition. Seeking treatment is encouraged. A person whose illness would be worsened by fasting is excused and makes up the fasts when able, or pays fidya if recovery is not expected.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
If you feel unsafe right now, or have fainted, have chest pain or are thinking of harming yourself, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. In the US you can call or text 988. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans are on 116 123.
Eating disorders are serious illnesses. They often come with anxiety, perfectionism, trauma or low self-worth, and they are hard to escape alone. Feeling guilty about them is common, but Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity, and He knows what you carry. A struggle that you did not choose is not a sin you need to hide in shame.
Islam still cares deeply about your body. The Prophet ﷺ said your body has a right over you, and Allah says to eat and drink without excess. Starving, purging and bingeing all harm that trust, which is why treatment matters. Getting help from a doctor, dietitian and therapist is not weak faith; it is how you honour the body Allah gave you. See seeing a therapist.
Fasting. For some people, Ramadan fasting becomes a cover for restriction or a trigger for bingeing. If your doctor or treatment team says fasting will harm your recovery, you are excused like any sick person. See skipping fasting when sick. Voluntary fasts should be left while you recover.
For family and friends: do not lecture about food or appearance, and do not frame it as a lack of iman. Listen, stay close, and help them reach professional care. Follow a qualified doctor's guidance throughout, and ask a mufti about specific questions on fasting or prayer.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-A'raaf 7:31
۞ يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍۢ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ ﴿٣١﴾
O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
Balance in eating is part of the deen.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:286
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
Allah knows the limits of the struggling person.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:185
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
The sick are excused from fasting.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1975
Sahih... فإن لجسدك عليك حقا ...
"Your body has a right over you."
Caring for the body, including through treatment, is a duty.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5641
Sahih... ما يصيب المسلم من نصب ولا وصب ولا هم ...
"No fatigue, illness, worry or grief befalls a Muslim except that Allah expiates some of his sins by it."
Illness brings forgiveness, not blame.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Sawm, on excuses for not fasting. A sick person who fears that fasting will worsen their illness may leave it and make it up later.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on treatment. Seeking treatment is permitted.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.