Anyone else here know the term Orthoexia?

KainStar
KainStar Posts: 197
in Introduce Yourself
May not be relevant in the intro forum or any at that. I recently saw a documentary about it. Its a type of eating disorder characterized on being 'healthy' to the extreme. When I watched this I saw a girl who would refuse to eat anything cooked, and if she did she would make herself throw up. Also, a guy who ate no meat, dairy, nothing to do with animals. Just vegetables, fruits, rice, and etc. He thought it would give him cancer if he ate them. (What he said in it)

Have any of you heard about this?
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Replies

  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    Orthorexia, yes I have heard of it. I have also experienced it. A few years ago I was "orthorexic." I have also been anorexic and bulimic in the past. Orthorexia is widely being recognized as an eating disorder. Eating disorders are classified as a mental illness.

    Hope this helps. :)
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    Thanks! I know some people don't think so. To me it seems scarier than anorexia and bulimia. I was anorexic in my early teens. Not something to mess with.
  • xMonroeMisfit
    xMonroeMisfit Posts: 411 Member
    Documentary?
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    You're welcome. Yes, for me, it was the hardest to overcome of the three. You sound like you are in recovery. :) I'm glad bc you are right-- it's not a fun road to go down. And, for those that don't believe it's a mental illness, they need to take a psych course or two. Those of use that have experienced it KNOW that it is a mental illness.
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    If I spelt it wrong my bad. But yeah, they tapped their disorder and how they deal with it and the process to become healthy.
  • ChocoMello
    ChocoMello Posts: 74 Member
    Can you share the link?
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    I actually watched it on True Life, MTV. I'm not sure of the link,but I'm sure MTV does have it, or do a Google search or even YouTube it. :)
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    If I spelt it wrong my bad. But yeah, they tapped their disorder and how they deal with it and the process to become healthy.

    Haha. You should hear me try to pronounce it. I had wisdom tooth surgery and it damaged my nerve, so I have a hard time pronouncing words and this would be one of them.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I think there is a very large population on this site that has orthorexia, honestly.

    http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/anorexia-nervosa/news/20001117/orthorexia-good-diets-gone-bad
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    I think there is a very large population on this site that has orthorexia, honestly.

    http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/anorexia-nervosa/news/20001117/orthorexia-good-diets-gone-bad
    See that's what I was thinking too, why I watched it and brought it up. Some people probably don't even realize they do. Thanks for the link!
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    If I spelt it wrong my bad. But yeah, they tapped their disorder and how they deal with it and the process to become healthy.

    Haha. You should hear me try to pronounce it. I had wisdom tooth surgery and it damaged my nerve, so I have a hard time pronouncing words and this would be one of them.
    Lol. We all have our flaws. That's what makes us well, us! :)
  • dkgoetz
    dkgoetz Posts: 65 Member
    I did a research project on orthorexia a few years ago, it's really interesting to me because people who experience it truly believe they are eating healthy. It's tough to classify because it's sort of a combination of an eating disorder and OCD (but then, in a way all eating disorders are).

    I definitely think it's dangerous because the food choices are healthy, but the food restrictions are not. It's also scary because health professionals don't fully understand how to help people who have orthorexia - it's similar but also very different from anorexia and bulimia.

    What was the title of the documentary, I'd like to check it out!
  • NatWillBeSkinny
    NatWillBeSkinny Posts: 111 Member
    how do you know if you have an eating disorder yourself?
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    I did a research project on orthorexia a few years ago, it's really interesting to me because people who experience it truly believe they are eating healthy. It's tough to classify because it's sort of a combination of an eating disorder and OCD (but then, in a way all eating disorders are).

    I definitely think it's dangerous because the food choices are healthy, but the food restrictions are not. It's also scary because health professionals don't fully understand how to help people who have orthorexia - it's similar but also very different from anorexia and bulimia.

    What was the title of the documentary, I'd like to check it out!
    I watched it on MTV true life: I have orthorexia
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    how do you know if you have an eating disorder yourself?
    I'll answer that question how I think you meant it lol

    1.)I'd say to an extent we all do, especially when trying to lose weight at our largest. We all have at least once in our life. Rather orthorexia,anorexia,bulimia, etc

    2.)You know your body more than anyone else, so that's your call to judge or see a specialist.

    I am no specialist in knowing about these into details, just wondered if anyone else knew as well, so I hope I answered your question. :)
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    how do you know if you have an eating disorder yourself?

    The first time I was committed by my parents- I didn't realize it. Then, with treatment, I learned the signs and all of that. So, when it rears it's ugly head I know that it's old ED.

    If you are concerned you have an eating disorder, one of the biggest signs is that you are preoccupied with food constantly. And, I don't mean just an "I'm on a diet" kind of thinking. I mean, day in and out, that's all you think about. You plan your days around how and what you are going to eat or not eat, etc.

    Google "How do I know if I have an eating disorder?" and you will find quizzes that can help you determine whether you do or not. If you think you do, I highly recommend seeing a doctor to get help.
  • Vmg773
    Vmg773 Posts: 49 Member
    Right now, this is not recognized as a mental illness in the field (i'm a psychologist). That being said, call it whatever you want, any sort of calorie restriction/OCD type features around food are dangerous. It's hard to find a balance.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Yes. I think that anything that becomes an obsession is certainly damaging to our mental health and could well be damaging to our physical health. Having a "normal" concern about our health and doing things like eating healthfully (and for some people, this might include eliminating certain foods that are deleterious to that individual's health) and exercising are beneficial both mentally and physically. When it becomes obsessive, it becomes pathological.
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    Thank you guys! Its a touchy subject, but I only saw it once and was wondering if anyone else has.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    May not be relevant in the intro forum or any at that. I recently saw a documentary about it. Its a type of eating disorder characterized on being 'healthy' to the extreme. When I watched this I saw a girl who would refuse to eat anything cooked, and if she did she would make herself throw up. Also, a guy who ate no meat, dairy, nothing to do with animals. Just vegetables, rice, and etc.

    Have any of you heard about this?


    just vegetables and rice does not seem like he fits the description you gave.
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    Right now, this is not recognized as a mental illness in the field (i'm a psychologist). That being said, call it whatever you want, any sort of calorie restriction/OCD type features around food are dangerous. It's hard to find a balance.

    It's not? Why does NAMI call it a serious mental illness? Why does my psychiatrist call it a mental illness? I'm not arguing-- I'm genuinely curious.
  • KainStar
    KainStar Posts: 197
    May not be relevant in the intro forum or any at that. I recently saw a documentary about it. Its a type of eating disorder characterized on being 'healthy' to the extreme. When I watched this I saw a girl who would refuse to eat anything cooked, and if she did she would make herself throw up. Also, a guy who ate no meat, dairy, nothing to do with animals. Just vegetables, rice, and etc.

    Have any of you heard about this?


    just vegetables and rice does not seem like he fits the description you gave.
    I'm just the messenger. Lol. How about you watch it. Majority of his foods were veggies and rice, why I said etc. Its on MTV true life
  • Vmg773
    Vmg773 Posts: 49 Member
    It's not in the DSM-IV or the DSM-V revision, that I know of in the latter anyway. So technically, it's not considered a diagnosis by the community, though it is a commonly thrown around term. Because I work with the courts, I would not use it. I don't bill insurance, but i'm curious how they handle those claims.
  • Reema_capricorn
    Reema_capricorn Posts: 1,032 Member
    I think I was orthorexic when I was 17. I used to eat healthy,workout and not even look at junk food and even if someone offered me a peice of chocolate then I worked out harder the next few days because I didn't want fat hanging off my body :(
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    No surprise that someone with psychological issues... has psychological issues. "Fortunately" it's a need to eat healthy food rather than cake.
  • GaloisGirl
    GaloisGirl Posts: 26 Member
    Fiona Apple had orthorexia. She talks about it in this interview: http://www.neverisapromise.com/interviews/RSJan98.html

    Quoting:

    She had strange eating habits. "It was colors," she explains. "I couldn't eat things that looked a certain way, that were a certain color. I mean, there was a time when I couldn't eat things that I felt clashed with what I was wearing. I don't mean clash like 'fashionably clash' -- there was just something in my head that if it didn't balance, I couldn't eat it, and I was so afraid of doing the wrong thing. If I ate something, I felt like I was doing it because 'I don't want to be crazy.' 'I'm going to eat that ****ing apple right now, even though I'm wearing a yellow dress.' This would go on in my head all the time. And it's exhausting. I would tell my sister, 'I'm just so tired I can't manage anymore.' I felt like I was the mother of some retarded child that was throwing fits all the time, and I couldn't help it. It would take me half an hour to pick an apple out of the drawer. I couldn't pick the right one."

    She had a problem, but she didn't like it being misunderstood. "I definitely did have an eating disorder. What was really frustrating for me was that everyone thought I was anorexic, and I wasn't. I was just really depressed and self-loathing." The distinction was important to her. "For me, it wasn't about getting thin, it was about getting rid of the bait that was attached to my body. A lot of it came from the self-loathing that came from being raped at the point of developing my voluptuousness," she explains. "I just thought that if you had a body and if you had anything on you that could be grabbed, it would be grabbed. So I did purposely get rid of it."
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    No surprise that someone with psychological issues... has psychological issues. "Fortunately" it's a need to eat healthy food rather than cake.

    food is not healthy or unhealthy without any context. It's not good that in orthorexia the person is eating "healthy" food, because they're not eating in a healthy way. For example, apples are healthy, right? But if someone eats nothing but apples, it's not healthy at all and if they keep it up they'll probably end up dying. There have been cases like this in real life (not necessarily apples but I've heard of it with carrots), and that would be an extreme case of orthorexia.

    People with orthorexia are restricting their diets in ways that are unhealthy and they often end up with nutritional deficiencies from it. Another example, the paleo diet is healthy (albeit restrictive) and most people who eat paleo don't have orthorexia.... the vegan diet is healthy (albeit restrictive), and most people who eat vegan don't have orthorexia.... but if someone insisted on being both vegan and paleo at the same time, then it's unlikely they're going to be able to get enough nutrition. The Fruitarian diet is restrictive to the point of causing malnutrition. Additionally, the diet itself does not have to be restrictive enough to cause malnutrition, if someone's attitude towards the food and why they're being so restrictive may mean that they have orthorexia... for example:

    vegan due to ethical reasons - not orthorexia

    paleo because you think this is the most natural diet for humans - not orthorexia

    either of these because the foods that are not allowed in them don't seem to agree with you and you feel better withouth them - not orthorexia

    vegan because you're terrified animal products will give you cancer, or paleo because you're terrified that processing food in any way makes it toxic - orthorexia.

    any diet or combination of diets taken to the point that you know you're suffering from malnutrition but can't bring yourself to eat the foods that you "shouldn't have" but will give your body the nutritents it needs - orthorexia
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    No surprise that someone with psychological issues... has psychological issues. "Fortunately" it's a need to eat healthy food rather than cake.

    food is not healthy or unhealthy without any context. It's not good that in orthorexia the person is eating "healthy" food, because they're not eating in a healthy way. For example, apples are healthy, right? But if someone eats nothing but apples, it's not healthy at all and if they keep it up they'll probably end up dying. There have been cases like this in real life (not necessarily apples but I've heard of it with carrots), and that would be an extreme case of orthorexia.

    Well, obviously, if they're only eating carrots then it's not good. But if they're only eating healthy foods, then it's better than only eating unhealthy foods, which is my point rather than anything you've clearly been reading into what I said.

    And, you've picked up on the throwaway part of my reply. The first bit is the important bit. An addict will always be an addict even if they kick their addiction to one substance unless they have suitable treatment which has very little to do with the addiction. Or to expand, someone with some kind of psychological issue will express it in another psychological issue unless the root cause is dealt with.
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    It's not in the DSM-IV or the DSM-V revision, that I know of in the latter anyway. So technically, it's not considered a diagnosis by the community, though it is a commonly thrown around term. Because I work with the courts, I would not use it. I don't bill insurance, but i'm curious how they handle those claims.

    Makes sense. Maybe they just used it loosely and didn't put it in my records as "mental illness." Regardless, it should be considered one because it is a mental disorder. Thanks for answering my question. :)
  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    Honestly I think there are a lot of people on MFP who would fit the definition I see described here:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthorexia_nervosa

    As was already mentioned it is not listed in the DSM-5. Here is a good article on the subject as it relates to the terms usefulness as a clinical diagnosis:

    http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200412/orthorexia-too-healthy

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