"New" eating disorders!

PepsiGal

Found this article on Yahoo. A real eye-opener! It talks about adult picky eaters and "orthorexia" - obsession with eating healthy, raw foods to the point of undernourishment.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/new-eating-disorders-are-they-real


I'm guilty of being picky (hate fish and certain veggies), but I don't restrict myself when it comes to trying to live a healthy lifestyle. I'm all about balance and moderation.

Angela4Health

Interesting article!

ReneeOfTheFae

Whoa! Creepy. Now I'm wondering if I'm heading in that direction. Hmm...better start teaching myself moderation so I don't cut everything out for fear of it not being healthy. Thanks for that!

ronda_gettinghealthy

it is not a medically recognized term, and it is more of a mental disorder compared to ocd (Obssesive compulsive disorder)- and it has to do with people who under eat due to fears of eating any type of food that "they" consider to be unhealthy. This can be an omission of any or all of the nutrient or food groups. Soemone who is a clean eater and chooses not to eat processed foods is not an orthorexian, but an orhtorexian type person could be a clean eater, or a vegetarian or even someone who cuts out all carbohydrates.

so dont panic and just eat a healthy well balanced diet of food.

Here is some more info--

The term orthorexia is used by some eating-disorder specialists to describe an unhealthy fixation with healthy eating. While not an officially recognized disorder, it is similar to several serious diagnoses. Like anorexia, it often involves severe weight loss, but so-called orthorexics are obsessed with food quality, rather than quantity, and strive for personal purity in their eating habits rather than for a thin physique.

From Psychology Today:


The word orthorexia was coined in 1997 by Colorado alternative medicine specialist Steven Bratman. Implicit in the description are traits that resemble obsessive-compulsive disorder, since sufferers devote excessive attention to their own strict rules and often spend hours each day worrying about tomorrow's meals. Such a person may find himself socially isolated because he doesn't indulge in everyday dishes. "If your focus on healthy eating is interfering with your happiness and social life," says Bratman, "you might have a problem."

Although many experts believe orthorexia may be a genuine concern, some think it's not a clinically useful diagnosis. "I've had many patients who are bent on absolute purity, down to the last little vitamin," says Joel Jahraus, medical director of Remuda Life Programs in Phoenix, Arizona. "But there's already a name for it: anorexia." Douglas Bunnell, president of the National Eating Disorders Association, agrees that while orthorexia may be important as a lay concept, in terms of treatment it differs from anorexia only in the finer points.

With almost 65 percent of Americans overweight, the hazards of eating too healthfully may seem like nit-picking. But Bunnell sees a hidden danger in the public focus on obesity: undue anxiety. Whether or not you label them orthorexic, certain people are psychologically vulnerable to becoming too rigid in their eating, he says.


The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the "go to" book for mental health issues. Anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating disorders are listed here. The DSM is currently under revision and DSM V is expected to be released in 2013. Debate continues whether to add orthorexia nervosa. The Washington-based Eating Disorders Coalition says 'yes' and is advocating a separate entry into the DSM V. However this is unlikely. There aren't enough scientific studies, data, agreement on criteria, validation of criteria etc. to merit mention in the DSM just yet. Hopefully, with more formalized research, criteria can be developed and data generated to provide specific, diagnostic criteria and statistics.

According to Dr. Chris Hawky "Promotion of unhealthy diets fosters pathological attitudes to eating. Including orthorexia." ("Food Fads of Yesterday and Today" Presented at GASTRO 2009 London UK, Nov 24, 2009). Food faddism is a dietary practice based on two things: exaggeration and belief. Some fad diets are extreme and promote a lifestyle which is very appealing to those with orthorexic tendencies. Rawism is one example and has been used in several orthorexic cases.