Orthorexia Nervosa: the new eating disorder

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  • ThriceBlessed
    ThriceBlessed Posts: 499 Member
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    I don't know if I would classify it as an eating disorder, or just a form of OCD that focuses in of fitness and food rather than alphabetizing your spice cabinet. There is no doubt that some people let fitness and health concerns so consume their lives that they neglect other areas, and to me this is not healthy, no matter what label you give to the unbalance (OCD, Orthorexia Nervosa, or something else).

    However, I think it might be difficult to determine who is really "disordered" and who is simply concerned for their health, where is the line drawn??? What if staying fit is part of a person's "job", such as for a professional athlete, or a Personal Trainer, or a weight loss consultant, or a health coach? If you don't make it somewhat of a focus you might risk losing clients. I'm not saying that people in those professions have to never have a candy bar, but they do probably have to be more cautious about their food and exercise than say, an information technologies specialist necessarily does. Some people might also have health issues that aren't evident to others, but that limit their dietary choices (allergies, celiac disease, diabetes, ADHD, etc.) There are also people who may choose not to have a candy bar, not because they really think one is that harmful, but because they know that they personally have trouble stopping at one, and its easier for them to avoid it all together.

    So I agree that the "disorder" probably exists, but it is best to leave that diagnosis to a professional, and refrain from judging someone else as suffering from it or not, because you may not know all the facts.
  • Rissyroo513
    Rissyroo513 Posts: 79 Member
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    Coming for a psychology point of view, any time you have TOO much or TOO little of something so that it starts to consume your every day living activities, there may be an issue. Becoming obsessive over anything is not healthy even if it is a healthy activity. I'm not saying that being conscious of what you are putting in your body is bad, or exercising is bad. When those concerns cross the point of becoming the only things that matter, a person should step back and make sure their priorities are in the right place and their lives are balanced.
  • Gray_Sare
    Gray_Sare Posts: 21
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    It's not a gimmick or made up condition. When eating anything other than what you consider "safe" or "healthy" foods gives you severe anxiety and you actually fear what those foods will do to you, or eating them sends you straight into a panic filled with immense guilt and a need to rid them of your body, then yes you are probably suffering from some form of it, or a mixture of this and other eating issues.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,406 Member
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    I know someone who I believe fits the criteria for orthorexia. Their food choices consisted only of fruits and veggies. No meat, no dairy, no grains - nothing. Just fruits and veggies.
  • thevoice1973
    thevoice1973 Posts: 55 Member
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    Wow, only in the first world are we so quick to want to find something wrong. From a certain perspective, anything can be classified as a disorder.

    Here's the kicker; if that "disorder" is causing nothing but social awkwardness and no actual detriment to health, is it really a disorder?

    Perhaps it's time for people to realize that it's far, far more important to be concerned by your own opinion than the opinion of others. If they don't like something about what you do, there is very little you can really do to change their minds.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,141 Member
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    If they want to live their lives like that then that's their decision, I can't see how it affects anyone else.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
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    I think my boss must have this, He has lost over 100lbs and now tells everyone how much he exercises and what he eats, he even brings stuff to restaurants like dressing for his salad and such, he won't ever eat anything that anyone brings into the office, even if its fruit or somewhat healthy, I know he is afraid of gaining all that weight back, so I understand, but it sure gets irritating that he is always talking about it!

    I don't see that as a disorder either................Irritating as it is, I believe he is very proud of his accomplishment and wants everyone to know about it.

    I bring my own salad dressing many places that don't make their own dressings. I no longer eat a bottled salad dressing. If a restaurant doesn't make theirs daily, then I bring my own.

    I don't eat what others bring into the office either..............especially when they say I made "XXX" low carb or "paleo" just for you.

    I don't know what ingredients went into making what they brought in, so I graciously decline and say I am not hungry at the time, but thank you for thinking of me.

    I have had too many people tell me that ingredients in foods they made were this or that or they don't understand what gluten free is and then I end up with a major pain flare for days on end.

    It is just easier and healthier for me to stay away.
  • LaNellAngerstein
    LaNellAngerstein Posts: 14
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    I second & third this. :drinker:

    I believe our society is so messed up about eating that healthy food habits ARE considered "a disorder" because it has become so uncommon to see, even, a true omnivore diet.
    Some people don't want to be reminded that what they put in their month is unhealthy and are willing to point fingers/call names to keep from having to take responsibility for and be confronted with their own bad habits. :wink:

    That said, I really love Chocolate Covered Katie and her blog. I have followed her for sometime now and respect her position. I just believe too many people will attempt to take her words COMPLETELY out of context.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,642 Member
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    somebody go get jonnythan and reddy...

    I'm making the popcorn.

    (airpopped)
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
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    Here's the kicker; if that "disorder" is causing nothing but social awkwardness and no actual detriment to health, is it really a disorder?

    depression, raised cortisol and stress levels, being a hermit, nutrient deficiencies, malnourishment

    just to name a few

    and its most definitely a huge detriment to health

    People with severe cases of orthorexia just keep adding foods to their taboo list. Day by day the list of things they'll eat dwindles. Its totally unhealthy. They continue to make decisions based on flawed science and narrow the window of what they'll eat. Its not just socially awkward.

    E.G.
    they read a bunch of crap about fat being bad and basically stop eating fat, then they decide carbs are bad so they try to stop eating carbs as well, then they read that too much protein is stressful on your liver and they try to limit protein.. next thing you know your an anorexic who thinks your healthy.... This happens. They come to a point of confusion that basically just leads to "nutritional insanity"... freakin quacks
  • Jess_Forever_After
    Jess_Forever_After Posts: 53 Member
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    It's not new. I remember seeing it in eating disorder literature in the mid-90's. It wasn't spawned by any new technological advacements. It's just another aspect of disordered eating.
  • mdallas6
    mdallas6 Posts: 95 Member
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    I just wanted to get your opinion on this. Since all this 'fitspo' stuff started on instagram I couldn't help but think it was actually unhealthy. Some of the pictures/comments are promoting eating NOTHING but whole/healthy foods and exercising excessively.

    I started to follow fitness accounts on instagram and was shocked how many people''s lives were taken over by eating healthy and exercising. Don't get me wrong, I'm a self confessed gym bunny and consider it my hobby, but I have no problem eating a chocolate bar every day with my lunch or going out for food/getting takeaway at the weekend.

    I was thinking to myself this is an eating disorder... yeah it isn't anorexia or bulimia but it's an obsession that rules peoples lives, i was reading one blog where the writer was SO fitness obsessed she would turn down drinks with her friends/meals, even though she had her 'perfect body'.

    I found this post on the blog Chocolate Covered Katie:

    http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2010/03/01/orthorexia-nervosa-the-new-eating-disorder/

    I completely agree that this is a from of eating disorder. I don't want you to think that I'm saying eating healthy and being dedicated is a bad thing, as I am totally into that way of life myself; but when it BECOMES your life even after you've reached your goal weight and you can't enjoy the little things in life then what's the point?

    Would love to know your opinions :)

    Its stupid and just another money maker for them to say people that are very conscience about what they put in their mouth and body is an eating disorder.

    Most Dr's want their patients to be mindful of what goes in their mouth and is digested through their bodies.

    My husband and I eat out within the guidelines of our eating plan, we cook most of our meals, buy the highest quality foods that we can afford and search out healthy ways of living.

    If that is a disorder, I am happy to have it.
    Agreed...if being mindful of what I eat on a daily basis is bad...all I have to say is being fat is bad and now being focused is bad...then what is right? For those of us who have a lot to lose we just cant win. Perhaps its people at their goal weight but even when I reach it I will always be mindful of my food and excercise because I can go right back to being unhealthy very quickly. I know because I did that. I dont see anything wrong with being focused on what one eats and doesnt eat. It is a daily struggle for me and always will be. It doesnt mean I have an eating disorder. It just means my way of life is eating healthy. And I dont see anything wrong with that.
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
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    I have a family member that suffers from this. In his quest to become "healthy", he's eliminated so many things from his diet that he's now suffering from extreme osteoporosis and malnutrition.

    And therein lies the difference. One can be obsessive about their diet; Paleo, no/low carb, low cal, no fat, no sugar....whatever but it's not Orthorexia-Nervosa until it affects their health negatively (like this person's family member). People suffering from this are not merely being mindful (obsessively or not) of their food choices/quantities or meticulously calorie counting, they are literally systematically removing so much from their diet that they are starving themselves to death because they don't feel that anything is healthy/clean enough to be in their bodies. I would venture to say that the majority of the people on this site do not have it.
  • snikkins
    snikkins Posts: 1,282 Member
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    When I went to the WPA conference in 2009, there was a woman presenting a poster on orthorexia nervosa, so this has been in discussion among psychologists for a few years at least now.

    I think the poster who outlined the criteria for the disorder demonstrated the difference best, but maybe think of it this way: Many of us are restricting our calories, but we're not considered anorexic. Why? Because we aren't doing it to a dangerous level, we don't feel crippling anxiety if we go a calorie over our daily goals, etc. Before being diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, a person is seen by a professional and his/her behavior is deemed different than someone restricting calories; the same thing would happen to someone diagnosed with orthorexia nervosa, if accepted as a new eating disorder. It wouldn't be people who choose not to eat cake, or choose to exercise; it is the other aspects like the anxiety and guilt that would determine the diagnosis.
  • thevoice1973
    thevoice1973 Posts: 55 Member
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    Here's the kicker; if that "disorder" is causing nothing but social awkwardness and no actual detriment to health, is it really a disorder?

    depression, raised cortisol and stress levels, being a hermit, nutrient deficiencies, malnourishment

    just to name a few

    and its most definitely a huge detriment to health

    People with severe cases of orthorexia just keep adding foods to their taboo list. Day by day the list of things they'll eat dwindles. Its totally unhealthy. They continue to make decisions based on flawed science and narrow the window of what they'll eat. Its not just socially awkward.

    E.G.
    they read a bunch of crap about fat being bad and basically stop eating fat, then they decide carbs are bad so they try to stop eating carbs as well, then they read that too much protein is stressful on your liver and they try to limit protein.. next thing you know your an anorexic who thinks your healthy.... This happens. They come to a point of confusion that basically just leads to "nutritional insanity"... freakin quacks

    As I pointed out, if the "disorder" is NOT causing health issues, then, can it really be labelled a disorder? If, on the other hand, people are suffering from nutritional imbalances, and so on and so forth, then it does become a disorder.

    But like many mental disorders, psychiatrists are still making only qualitative diagnostics, rather than quantitative. Without that quantification, you can have the same person present themselves to several mental health professionals and get different diagnosis every time.

    By the definition you bring up, it sounds like classic OCD behaviour, which can demonstrate in pretty much every sphere of a person's life. Probably why the DSM doesn't include it!
  • ils_1231
    ils_1231 Posts: 249 Member
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    there is nothing wrong with being health conscious, and wanting to eat food with less preservatives-- but the problem is when the activity and the thoughts behind that activity are negative and harmful. i had a friend who was anorexic/bulimic in high school. it was extremely painful to watch someone have so much hatred towards themselves and gravitate towards thinspo/proana sites ( annnnd livejournal -- we were nerds). i actually had to end my friendship with her because at the time i was not mentally prepared to be constant support to that friend (we were 14/15 years old). I actually follow some clean eating instagrams, but i'm incredibly mindful about what they are pushing and how they achieved their own results.


    here's an article that i think is the problem with fitspo and fitspo/clean eating insta's :

    http://www.thegreatfitnessexperiment.com/2012/02/is-fitspiration-really-any-better-than-thinspiration.html

    Summary:
    "Looking at rock-hard body after rock-hard body it occurred to me that fitspo may be thinspo in a sports bra."
  • amblight
    amblight Posts: 350 Member
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    I study nutrition, and I'm pretty sure there are people in my class who suffers from this.

    There is particulary one guy who I worry about. Everytime I hear from him, he's put in an extra rule to his diet. There are probably only a handfull of foods left that he can eat.

    First he was vegan, which is all fine and easily manageable. Then he became raw vegan, ok, starting to get more difficult. Then he became 80/10/10. Then he specifies it further that it's not just 80/10/10 by the end of the day, each individual thing can have no more than 10% fat or protein. Then he also restricted his fiber intake exessively (no cabbages or it's relatives, no roots etc.). Then he also believes the body cannot consume more than one thing - so each meal has to be only one igredient - now I think he's even doing only 1 ingredient per day. And it's only soft mushy fruit.

    We study nutrition, and he's not afraid to speak up and say that he certainly hope we won't go out and claim that health and drinking cow-tit-extract are possible together etc., and if we want to waste our lives with having a beer on a friday, then we know what's coming to us.
  • Honeycat89
    Honeycat89 Posts: 149
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    Summary:
    "Looking at rock-hard body after rock-hard body it occurred to me that fitspo may be thinspo in a sports bra."

    I love this quote!

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