9 replies to this topic

[Zanzan]

Healthy food obsession sparks rise in new eating disorder Fixation with healthy eating can be sign of serious psychological disorder

Amelia Hill The Observer, Sunday 16 August 2009

Orthorexia nervosa sufferers like to focus on 'righteous' eating and have rigid rules about avoiding certain foods.

Eating disorder charities are reporting a rise in the number of people suffering from a serious psychological condition characterised by an obsession with healthy eating.

The condition, orthorexia nervosa, affects equal numbers of men and women, but sufferers tend to be aged over 30, middle-class and well-educated.

The condition was named by a Californian doctor, Steven Bratman, in 1997, and is described as a "fixation on righteous eating". Until a few years ago, there were so few sufferers that doctors usually included them under the catch-all label of "Ednos" – eating disorders not otherwise recognised. Now, experts say, orthorexics take up such a significant proportion of the Ednos group that they should be treated separately.

"I am definitely seeing significantly more orthorexics than just a few years ago," said Ursula Philpot, chair of the British Dietetic Association's mental health group. "Other eating disorders focus on quantity of food but orthorexics can be overweight or look normal. They are solely concerned with the quality of the food they put in their bodies, refining and restricting their diets according to their personal understanding of which foods are truly 'pure'."

Orthorexics commonly have rigid rules around eating. Refusing to touch sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, yeast, soya, corn and dairy foods is just the start of their diet restrictions. Any foods that have come into contact with pesticides, herbicides or contain artificial additives are also out.

The obsession about which foods are "good" and which are "bad" means orthorexics can end up malnourished. Their dietary restrictions commonly cause sufferers to feel proud of their "virtuous" behaviour even if it means that eating becomes so stressful their personal relationships can come under pressure and they become socially isolated.

"The issues underlying orthorexia are often the same as anorexia and the two conditions can overlap but orthorexia is very definitely a distinct disorder," said Philpot. "Those most susceptible are middle-class, well-educated people who read about food scares in the papers, research them on the internet, and have the time and money to source what they believe to be purer alternatives."

Deanne Jade, founder of the National Centre for Eating Disorders, said: "There is a fine line between people who think they are taking care of themselves by manipulating their diet and those who have orthorexia. I see people around me who have no idea they have this disorder. I see it in my practice and I see it among my friends and colleagues."

Jade believes the condition is on the increase because "modern society has lost its way with food". She said: "It's everywhere, from the people who think it's normal if their friends stop eating entire food groups, to the trainers in the gym who [promote] certain foods to enhance performance, to the proliferation of nutritionists, dieticians and naturopaths [who believe in curing problems through entirely natural methods such as sunlight and massage].

"And just look in the bookshops – all the diets that advise eating according to your blood type or metabolic rate. This is all grist for the mill to those looking for proof to confirm or encourage their anxieties around food."

http://www.guardian....eating-disorder

[Bill Z]

IMO, psychologists/pschiatrists could come up with a disease name for the perfectly healthy person, so it isn't much of a stretch to label any kind of obsession as a disorder for them.

Just another example of how kooky the kook doctors are.

[bookwom]

IMO, psychologists/pschiatrists could come up with a disease name for the perfectly healthy person, so it isn't much of a stretch to label any kind of obsession as a disorder for them.

Just another example of how kooky the kook doctors are.

Well, yeah, bill, any kind of obsession is a disorder. As the article says, these people's obsession with "healthy" eating is leaving them malnourished and adversely affecting their relationships. Many disorders are behaviors taken to the extreme, maybe even behaviors that are positive normally. Working hard is a good thing, but working to the point where you exhaust yourself and alienate your family isn't. Drinking alcohol isn't bad, but alcoholism is. Examples go on and on. And people who are mentally and emotionally healthy don't engage in these behaviors, so they need some help. And please give me the disease name for the perfectly healthy person, or even show me a perfectly healthy person. I don't think they exist.

[Bill Z]

Well, yeah, bill, any kind of obsession is a disorder. As the article says, these people's obsession with "healthy" eating is leaving them malnourished and adversely affecting their relationships. Many disorders are behaviors taken to the extreme, maybe even behaviors that are positive normally. Working hard is a good thing, but working to the point where you exhaust yourself and alienate your family isn't. Drinking alcohol isn't bad, but alcoholism is. Examples go on and on. And people who are mentally and emotionally healthy don't engage in these behaviors, so they need some help. And please give me the disease name for the perfectly healthy person, or even show me a perfectly healthy person. I don't think they exist.

Perfectly healthy, well I know I am not, but mentally, I feel pretty sane. But I've read that I am supposedly suffering from a brain enzyme deficiency. This "disease" has the effect of making me enjoy life more than the average person (or so I have read). me thinks that many "disorders" are made up for the sake of "identifying a new disease", when reality is, obsessive-compulsive behaviors many times are nothing more than habits exercised a little more robustly. If it is obsessive-compulsive, it doesn't need a new name for each particular manifestation, it is still just obsessive-compulsive in my book, whether it is eating only healthy foods to the point of malnutrition, or checking every locked door 3 times before going to sleep, it doesn't need a "new name".

[supermom]

Just another example of how kooky the kook doctors are.

This "disease" has the effect of making me enjoy life more than the average person (or so I have read).

hmm--soo..in your estimation, withsuch a disease would you truly be able to recognize a disorder as a disorder, if in fact, you are busy--enjoying life, more than the average person?

Ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!


kooky is a nice big, warm, chocolate chip cookie and a glass of Kalua (because I'm allergic to milk)....and lots of friends.

yep!

[bookwom]

Perfectly healthy, well I know I am not, but mentally, I feel pretty sane. But I've read that I am supposedly suffering from a brain enzyme deficiency. This "disease" has the effect of making me enjoy life more than the average person (or so I have read). me thinks that many "disorders" are made up for the sake of "identifying a new disease", when reality is, obsessive-compulsive behaviors many times are nothing more than habits exercised a little more robustly. If it is obsessive-compulsive, it doesn't need a new name for each particular manifestation, it is still just obsessive-compulsive in my book, whether it is eating only healthy foods to the point of malnutrition, or checking every locked door 3 times before going to sleep, it doesn't need a "new name".

True OCD is not just a robust habit. If the person doesn't perform the behavior, they experience extreme anxiety. And it usually isn't considered a disorder until it affects the persons life adversely.

I'm really glad for you that you don't have any experience with mental/emotional disorders. I don't have any experience with severe asthma, so I know I don't have a clue and wouldn't presume to judge those who suffer with it or try to help those who do.

[Bill Z]

True OCD is not just a robust habit. If the person doesn't perform the behavior, they experience extreme anxiety. And it usually isn't considered a disorder until it affects the persons life adversely.

I'm really glad for you that you don't have any experience with mental/emotional disorders. I don't have any experience with severe asthma, so I know I don't have a clue and wouldn't presume to judge those who suffer with it or try to help those who do.

One, you have no idea what my experiences are with respect to people in my life and the disorders they have had.

Two, I think you are missing my point. OCD is a real problem for some people. However, I don't believe every little nuance of OCD deserves it's own name.

three, I think many times people get diagnosed with a label and then run with it. Take the couple I know that has been "diagnosed" with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My diagnosis is they are lazy. i.e. they have plenty of energy to complain about how hard ther lives are collecting free money to live on, they have plenty of energy to get videos to rent and watch, plenty of energy to smoke 3 packs a day of cigarettes, plenty of energy to complain about having to grocery shop, but they have no energy to find a job and go to work. This couple is a pair of losers leaching their way off the system, because some crackpot doctor said they have CFS.

[Oldschooler81]

I'm just breezing through the topic, and when it comes to disorders I can see both points of view.

On the one hand I think it's good to be more aware of conditions people have (it can help erase the stigma just by knowing certain things exist)... we're probably more knowledgeable in the last 10 years than ever before. I actually had a theatre arts/tv acting teacher who has a mild form of OCD. That's the first time I actually knew or heard about it (he's a mellow, compassionate guy with a great sense of humor). On the other hand, I think Bill is right that it's a double edged sword. We can start being too quick to attach a label to people for doing anything even remotely out of the ordinary.

I guess most things can be overdone, even if they're good in moderation. I mean I'm used to being a vegetarian (or pescetarian really), but going all the way and being a vegan seems like too much to handle, lol. Then again, it's probably better to eat too healthy than vice versa.

[BobbiMcGee]

Was this "disorder" invented by the processed food industry? And not buying all the processed crap with tons of sugar and ingredients that I can't even pronounce in favor of whole, natural foods makes me a sicko?

[doj_gal]

Was this "disorder" invented by the processed food industry? And not buying all the processed crap with tons of sugar and ingredients that I can't even pronounce in favor of whole, natural foods makes me a sicko?

I think what the OP was trying to suggest is that an extreme in anything is unhealthy. I believe my co-worker suffers from this. Not only is she very picky with the foods she eats but is very concerned with what others eat and makes her opinions heard. There's only so much one can hear about gluten-free, organic, fat free, low salt, all-natural, flour-less, almond flour that makes you want to just say "eat a fricken hamburger and leave me alone". I guess balance is key. I fear the reason why she constantly is questioning my food choices is because I have gained weight. I appreciate the gesture but being in the bathroom every 5 minutes like she is makes me question the diet she wants to put me on!