If you don’t avoid eating, you don’t purge and you don’t binge, you probably assume you don’t have an eating disorder, right? The world of eating disorders is always changing. I know this because I studied them in grad school and in the 10 years since, loads of things have changed. I try to keep up with the latest, which is how I stumbled across a brand new eating disorder that experts are increasingly being on the lookout for. It’s called orthorexia nervosa and is a sneaky disorder that you might not even know you have. Here’s everything you need to know.
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1. What is Orthorexia Nervosa?
The Mayo Clinic defines this eating disorder as an obsession with a “perfect diet.” Sure, paying attention to what you eat is important, but when it takes over your life, it could become an issue. Just like anorexics have an unhealthy preoccupation with counting calories and restricting food, orthorexics are the same way about consuming only healthy foods.
2. Eating Clean
Eating clean means foods free of dyes, preservatives and artificial flavors. That’s a very virtuous idea, but taking it to the extreme can be bad for you. It might mean avoiding foods that have nutritional benefits. Plus, you never get any joy out of having a meal if you’re super strict about what goes into your mouth or you spend all your time worrying about it.
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3. Symptoms
In addition to being super restrictive about what you’re eating, you might also find that your definition of healthy eating interfering with your daily life. That might mean skipping happy hour with your friends because there isn’t anything for you to eat. Or avoiding your best friend’s baby shower because the snacks are all fried or fatty. As a result you’ll isolate yourself from life and suffer because of it.
4. Is It a True Eating Disorder?
Experts are divided on whether orthorexia is a true eating disorder or not. Some medical professionals are pushing for it to have it added to the official books that outline mental health disorders. Others say that orthorexia is just a version of obsessive compulsive disorder based on its control of what you eat and don’t eat. Either way, it’s definitely a problem that needs to be addressed.
5. Who is Affected?
Much like anorexia and bulimia affect a certain set of individuals, so too does orthorexia. According to experts, it generally afflicts groups of people that are super knowledgeable or engaged in health fields. This might be physical therapists, nutritionists, sports trainers and even dieticians. When eating healthy is your entire life, it can take over and turn into an issue. That doesn’t mean the average person won’t suffer from orthorexia though so be on the lookout for symptoms in yourself and your friends.
6. Problems
The main issue surrounding orthorexia is that most people who suffer from it don’t think they even have a problem. After all, who would think there was anything wrong with eating super healthy and paying close attention to their health? A healthy lifestyle is vital, but when it gets out of control, you could suffer the consequences. Other problems include skipping meals or spending more than you can afford on foods that fit your rigorous standards.
7. Complications
According to experts, orthorexia is an issue all by itself, but some mental health experts caution that it can transform itself into anorexia. Anorexia is characterized by a severe calorie restriction and a refusal to eat. It can cause death in its most severe stages so it’s very important to seek treatment for any eating disorder.
Do you have orthorexia? Never, ever stop eating healthy for fear that you’ll develop it, but make sure you have a good balance. What tips do you have for doing it right?
Comments
Mahahn: Actually, I think this is an interesting article because sometimes individuals seem to consume their entire lifestyle and daily Life focused on their diet. When it becomes close to an OCD trait, it might be healthy for your body but strongly interferes in your daily life. The compulsive obsession can turn into an impulse (addiction) where you tune yourself out completely and more preoccupied with explicitly your diet.
Zanna: I agree with Mahahn. I live in an area where people are generally very health conscious and also affluent. I have seen a few friends and neighbors go in this direction. They key word here is obsessive. It controls every minute of their lives, costs more than you can imagine and ruins their relationships. It is so all-consuming that there isn't time for anything else in their lives. Many of us strive for healthy diets, but when any diet is the main focus of life it is destructive.
Zanna: Also, there is a lot of fear about the possibility of eating impure foods. So afraid that they cannot eat anything that they have not researched, purchased, and prepared themselves. There is also a "purer and holier than thou" attitude that interferes with friendship.
Sydney: @carly exactly the same for me. Was orthorexic for merely a year before it turned into anorexia in eighth grade and I've been restricting ever since. I've been living with this for 6 years and it all started with orthorexia. And eating disorder is an eating disorder and they need to be treated. It isn't more insignificant than the others, it's utterly destructive.
shannon: Eating clean is not a bad thing
Claire: Orthorexia isn't just about 'eating clean' (which, by the way, is a stupid way to put it). It's about being obsessed with your diet that you think about it all day, you constantly preach and that you believe that your diet is the best in the world. This isn't just 'putting a label' on something, it's a genuine thing. An if any of you actually did a degree in it and Leary about them, you'd know.
lovingnyc: I used to have Anorexia (or still do...). I staeted severly restricting my diet and only eating healthy. I wouldnt eat at school anymore, because the food contained white flour. But some people with eating disorders dont even want to loose weight, they control their food, because they want to feel like they have the control over something in their lives. I believe this is an ED, or at least something that leads to an ED!
Carly: It's more about what it can turn into. Orthorexia turned into anorexia and then bulimia for me - it is a true eating disorder.
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