"eating disorder" thrown around loosely

I think you fail to realize the nature of this site, which can and does attract many people with unhealthy relationships towards food. Being overweight is unhealthy, but so is being underweight. Couple that with fear of eating (which is a fine way to destroy yourself) and with the obsessive nature that counting calories can bring, and YES, we do wind up with many folks here who struggle with undereating disorders.

In no way, shape, or form should the other extreme of what many of us are trying to do (lose weight) be celebrated or encouraged. We are here to develop healthy relationships with our bodies. Fearing food and our bodies is not the way to do this. So when we see it, we call it out and suggest help.

You do those who are ill, who are teetering on extremely dangerous behaviors, a disservice by saying what you've said.

^^^ this

being afraid to eat because you're afraid of gaining weight is a symptom of an eating disorder, and it's often one of the things that people have before they go on to develop a full blown eating disorder. It is very much a red flag.

if the OP didn't actually mean that she was afraid to eat in case she gained weight, then maybe she should have said what she did mean. because people generally take what you type on the internet at face value. And if you ask a question on the internet but don't word it well and get answers that you didn't want, you can just ignore them. No-one's compelled to follow any advice given on the internet. If it's wrong, or not appropriate, then just ignore it.

I have an eating disorder...I am addicted to eating well.

That's an actual eating disorder. It's called Orthorexia.. It hasn't been added to the DSM, but it is highly recognized in the eating disorder community.

"Orthorexia is a proposed eating disorder or mental disorder characterized by an extreme or excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthful"

I hope you are okay!!

...and here we are. The guy (or girl) says he likes to eat well. You make it into Orthorexia.


Over-reacting, much?

The above person wasn't told they had orthorexia. It was pointed out that the disorder exists. That's not the same thing.

I do think some people over use the term orthorexia. Different people have different eating habits and preferences. That does not make it a disorder. It is a disorder if it is disruptive to the person's life or loved ones (in a real way, not just that they are annoyed the person won't eat donuts and pop tarts), or if it is having a negative impact on the person's physical, nutritional, or mental/emotional, or social health. But, just because some random person on the internet doesn't like that person, it doesn't mean they have an eating disorder. I also think being paranoid of imagined disorder is a problem as well, and should not be encouraged. I think there is an issue of control. Some people want to control what other people eat (whether they want everyone to eat by their definition of healthy or they want everyone to eat a specific food item that they enjoy such as poptarts for example). I also think there is a lot of projection on here at times. People see what they dislike in other people, but keep the drama going from their own responses to it (maybe they do that for fun). Perhaps we all do this at times, maybe it's part of human nature (or human boredom or how people deal with avoiding their own issues, maybe more than one reason). Sorry, just kind of needed to get that off my chest. Btw, no one has ever or would ever call me orthorexic, so this is not a personal reaction to anything, just from what I read in the forums. I'm not personally upset with anyone. This is not a serious issue for me, just an observation. Perhaps I missed something, as would be likely on internet forums. This is not a response to anything or person specifically or any recent event. And this doesn't only happen with eating disorders. People will also throw around other mental disorder terms. There is probably a lack of education on what the real definition of many mental disorders are.

I do think some people over use the term orthorexia. Different people have different eating habits and preferences. That does not make it a disorder. It is a disorder if it is disruptive to the person's life or loved ones (in a real way, not just that they are annoyed the person won't eat donuts and pop tarts), or if it is having a negative impact on the person's physical, nutritional, or mental/emotional, or social health. But, just because some random person on the internet doesn't like that person, it doesn't mean they have an eating disorder. I also think being paranoid of imagined disorder is a problem as well, and should not be encouraged. I think there is an issue of control. Some people want to control what other people eat (whether they want everyone to eat by their definition of healthy or they want everyone to eat a specific food item that they enjoy such as poptarts for example). I also think there is a lot of projection on here at times. People see what they dislike in other people, but keep the drama going from their own responses to it (maybe they do that for fun). Perhaps we all do this at times, maybe it's part of human nature (or human boredom or how people deal with avoiding their own issues, maybe more than one reason). Sorry, just kind of needed to get that off my chest. Btw, no one has ever or would ever call me orthorexic, so this is not a personal reaction to anything, just from what I read in the forums. I'm not personally upset with anyone. This is not a serious issue for me, just an observation. Perhaps I missed something, as would be likely on internet forums. This is not a response to anything or person specifically or any recent event. And this doesn't only happen with eating disorders. People will also throw around other mental disorder terms. There is probably a lack of education on what the real definition of many mental disorders are.

Very well said. Couldn't have said it better.

Anorexia will kill you faster than being fat will, in general. So when someone comes here at already an unhealthy low weight and talks about eating less than 1200 calories a day, yes, it is cause for alarm. Not everyone comes here because they were fat, many come here because they *think* they are fat when in reality, they are not.

I apologize for not being more clear. I am talking about only people who are overweight and doing what they have to do to lose the weight. I know there are some that come here to maintain fitness or even gain weight, but the majority are people like myself who have or had a considerable amount of weight they needed to or do need to be lose to improve health.

Just because they're overweight doesn't mean they have to eat less than 1000 calories... nor does it mean it's healthy to do so. You're advocating for eating disorders... it's not right. It's not right whether a person is 100 pounds or 300 pounds.

I have an eating disorder...I am addicted to eating well.

That's an actual eating disorder. It's called Orthorexia.. It hasn't been added to the DSM, but it is highly recognized in the eating disorder community.

"Orthorexia is a proposed eating disorder or mental disorder characterized by an extreme or excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthful"

I hope you are okay!!

...and here we are. The guy (or girl) says he likes to eat well. You make it into Orthorexia.


Over-reacting, much?

The above person wasn't told they had orthorexia. It was pointed out that the disorder exists. That's not the same thing.

My problem lies with psychological "disorders" that are mostly made up. Like Orthorexia. Yes, I'm sure at the extreme, it is a burden. Like the guy who only ate French fries for 20 years. There are big nutritional deficits being created there.

But the first post in this sequence says, "I have an eating disorder...I am addicted to eating well.

The second post says,.."blah blah, I hope you're okay".

C'mon, he doesn't have a disorder because he likes to eat well. You guys take things to such extremes.

If anyone really believes the DSM, well, that's another thread.

It is also unhealthy to recommend that people with smaller amounts of weight to lose to eat low calorie diets. People who have a lot of weight to lose can afford to eat low calorie, but the people with less amount to lose risk losing lean body mass which is unhealthy as well as sending their hormones into an unbalanced state which actually works against weight loss. So when you see people protesting about less than 1,200 in most cases that is very solid advice, unless the person is very petite to begin with, or unless the person is severely obese.

I didnt neccesarily "recommend" anything. I am just stating that when people are 300,400 whatever pounds, its great that they are doing anything they can do get the weight off. We have lots of fat stored and each person can observe how eating less effects them personally. Rather than people telling them what they are doing is wrong and telling them they have an eating disorder, how bout encouragement for what they are doing and then helping them educate themselves on how they may be able to do it more safely or efficiently?

I can only speak for myself, but I have lost almost 70 pounds in less than 6 months and want to lose about 30 more. According to the so called experts here, I have an eating disorder, I do not eat enough and I am in "starvation mode" most of the time, which IMO is just plain wrong. I do not have an eating disorder, I admit I sometimes may eat too little (especially based on the amount I burn) and I guarantee I am never starving. If i were starving, I would eat! I am doing what I need to do to get the weight off so I can add the weight lifting and running and I use this site to educate myself as to how I can maintain and make life changes in the future to be more healthy. I was depressed, I was fat (fatter than I am now), I felt like crap, I couldnt do much without losing my breathe, etc etc etc. Now I feel great, both emotionally and physically despite doing most everything wrong, starving myself and eating the wrong foods according to many here on MFP.

can you point us to anywhere on here where somebody has told you that you have an eating disorder? i'd like to see who these so-called "experts" are that you claim are telling you such things.

By some standards I would have had an eating disorder in 7th and 8th grade because I would only eat 1 to 2 meals a day (and no one realizing that a lot of it had to do with at home circumstances).

Now, to an extent I probably do have "disordered eating" because there are times where I ask myself "am i going to get fat from eating this?" but that is usually when I am eating a cookie or something like that. Unfortunately, that comes from when my mom was alive and she would basically berate about my weight and how she wished I would have looked like a college cheerleader or dancer and why did i have to be the fat kid and blah blah blah. it also doesn't help when my husband says to me "I'm hungry. O wait, you are counting your calories today."

I think when someone comes on and says "I'm eating such and such calories" that it can be cause for alarm. but in the amount of time I have been on mfp, when someone says that, it usually means they are eating too little.

My cousin was 569 this time around when he started trying to lose weight (his heaviest in his life was 1200), and he is now down to 371ish (he drinks 2 shakes a day and one meal). Do i say "that's not right you need to do this instead." nope, because eventually he will learn.

Psychology is an area that i don't understand so therefore i can't give advice on. But some here on mfp have been on here for years, and so they give their 2 cents in hopes to help out and maybe the old saying "another year older, another year wiser" holds some truth.

Also OP, congratulations on the weight loss!!!!!!!!!!

Just reposting one of my previous posts, people. Food is not a cure all.

and once again...

From The Way To Cook, written by Julia Child and published in 1989.

"Because of media hype and woefully inadequate information, too many people nowadays are deathly afraid of their food, and what does fear of food do to the digestive system? ... I, for one, would much rather swoon over a few thin slices of prime beefsteak, or one small serving of chocolate mousse, or a sliver of foie gras than indulge to the full on such nonentities as fat-free gelatin puddings."

"The pleasures of the table — that lovely old-fashioned phrase — depict food as an art form, as a delightful part of civilized life. In spite of food fads, fitness programs, and health concerns, we must never lose sight of a beautifully conceived meal."


and....

“Life itself is the proper binge.” ― Julia Child

I think you fail to realize the nature of this site, which can and does attract many people with unhealthy relationships towards food. Being overweight is unhealthy, but so is being underweight. Couple that with fear of eating (which is a fine way to destroy yourself) and with the obsessive nature that counting calories can bring, and YES, we do wind up with many folks here who struggle with undereating disorders.

In no way, shape, or form should the other extreme of what many of us are trying to do (lose weight) be celebrated or encouraged. We are here to develop healthy relationships with our bodies. Fearing food and our bodies is not the way to do this. So when we see it, we call it out and suggest help.

You do those who are ill, who are teetering on extremely dangerous behaviors, a disservice by saying what you've said.

^^^ this

being afraid to eat because you're afraid of gaining weight is a symptom of an eating disorder, and it's often one of the things that people have before they go on to develop a full blown eating disorder. It is very much a red flag.

This and this. I have seen the beginning to end of some people weight problems and the one with the disorderly behaviors were far worse off in my opinion and the people involved first hand and otherwise. And the one obese person who took the healthy approach looks a ton firmer and healthier inside and out.

Also not accusing you but nobody wants to admit to that kind of problem and in my experience i have heard several people say the same as the OP and all of them have been hospitalized for health problems due to malnourishment

I do think some people over use the term orthorexia. Different people have different eating habits and preferences. That does not make it a disorder. It is a disorder if it is disruptive to the person's life or loved ones (in a real way, not just that they are annoyed the person won't eat donuts and pop tarts), or if it is having a negative impact on the person's physical, nutritional, or mental/emotional, or social health. But, just because some random person on the internet doesn't like that person, it doesn't mean they have an eating disorder. I also think being paranoid of imagined disorder is a problem as well, and should not be encouraged. I think there is an issue of control. Some people want to control what other people eat (whether they want everyone to eat by their definition of healthy or they want everyone to eat a specific food item that they enjoy such as poptarts for example). I also think there is a lot of projection on here at times. People see what they dislike in other people, but keep the drama going from their own responses to it (maybe they do that for fun). Perhaps we all do this at times, maybe it's part of human nature (or human boredom or how people deal with avoiding their own issues, maybe more than one reason). Sorry, just kind of needed to get that off my chest. Btw, no one has ever or would ever call me orthorexic, so this is not a personal reaction to anything, just from what I read in the forums. I'm not personally upset with anyone. This is not a serious issue for me, just an observation. Perhaps I missed something, as would be likely on internet forums. This is not a response to anything or person specifically or any recent event. And this doesn't only happen with eating disorders. People will also throw around other mental disorder terms. There is probably a lack of education on what the real definition of many mental disorders are.

I like this response

Wish I had a nickle for every time someone accused me of having an "eating disorder" on this website because I occasionally eat under 1200 calories. (I also occasionally eat way more, which is why I'm still fat)

I'm a little person. I don't NEED 2000 calories a day, but that's what I was eating when I didn't know better and that's how I got fat. I'm super happy for (and jealous of) people who can eat that much and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Some of us just have to eat a whole hell of a lot less to battle this bulge.

Also, 10 lbs is a lot more visual weight (and health-compromising belly fat) on someone my size than it is on someone of average height. That doesn't give me "body dysmorphia". It gives me 4 pants sizes too big.
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Though some of the people on this forum genuinely care about people who might have eating disorders,

most just like to make fun of little people.

others need to attack people with lower calorie needs to self-justify their own much higher intakes.

Never truer words spoken in my opinion!

The bolded, final sentence of yours is exactly what I think they are doing too, but I could never put it into words like that.

I am on 1200 calories per day too and have been accused of

having an eating disorder
not eating enough
being in starvation mode
damaging my metabolism

I am none of those, however some people just cannot accept that some of us can survive quite nicely and lose weight into the bargain on `1200 calories. Perhaps they are jittery because it really does work and they don't like it as it proves their theories wrong.

(now all I have to do is wait.....)

Obviously people don't understand what an eating disorder is. According to the FAO, the average person in the world needs a minimum of 1800 calories a day to maintain their weight and yet, people here will say 1200 to lose weight is starving yourself.

http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/

Also not accusing you but nobody wants to admit to that kind of problem and in my experience i have heard several people say the same as the OP and all of them have been hospitalized for health problems due to malnourishment

Really? Every single person that said anything similiar to what I said that you know ended up in the hospital for malnourishment?

I guess that means I am headed to the hospital soon even though I think I am very healthy and my doctor agrees.

I believe what that poster meant was that most people in the grips of an eating disorder often protest that they feel just fine, all the way to their collapse, internal organ damage, and extended hospital stays. Go onto any pro-ana site and you will find people subsisting on 500 calories a day who insist that "THEY FEEL JUST FINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

Not feeling ill effects is not always the best way to judge health, as with many disorders, your sickness can literally override the very real physical dangers.

I also doubt many people here are exclaiming those who eat 1200 are in the grips of an eating disorder. I don't know how long you've been watching these boards, but you'll find many, many, many posters who come in here eating 1,000 calories, 800 calories, 500 calories a day - and YES - those people do need to be told there is a problem and urged to seek help.