“Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that
God's Spirit lives in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:16
In today’s world, there’s increasing
emphasis on personal care. There’s now more ways to groom ourselves; the term,
“metrosexual” even describes men who pay attention to this level of detailed
grooming. All manner of waxing, shaving, manicures and pedicures now exists
between both sexes.
1 Corinthians 3:16, in the name of
this all important personal care issue, has been paraphrased as we are
repeatedly told our bodies are temples. Yes, they are.
And we are told the benefit of being
good stewards:
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can
also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also
be dishonest with much.”
Luke
16:10
When it comes to our bodies, the
benefit of that stewardship is good health, strength and, of course, feeling
good.
So, yes, fitness and nutrition are
important. That involves regular exercise and healthy eating. But even those
good practices can be overdone. When it becomes obsessive or compulsive
behavior and thought, hallmarks of
disordered eating, it then goes from healthy to harmful.
There are a wide variety of eating
disorders out there; anorexia and bulimia are the mostly widely known and
reported. However, one of the more recently discovered of these disorders is
that of “orthorexia.”
What
are the Signs and Symptoms of Orthorexia?
Orthorexia is the term for a condition that
includes symptoms of obsessive behavior in pursuit of a healthy diet.
Orthorexia sufferers often display signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders that
frequently co-occur with anorexia nervosa or other eating disorders.
A person with
orthorexia will be obsessed with defining and maintaining the perfect diet,
rather than an ideal weight. She will fixate on eating foods that give her a
feeling of being pure and healthy. An orthorexic may avoid numerous foods,
including those made with:
·
Artificial
colors, flavors or preservatives
·
Pesticides
or genetic modification
·
Fat,
sugar or salt
·
Animal
or dairy products
·
Other
ingredients considered to be unhealthy
Common behavior
changes that may be signs of orthorexia may include:
·
Obsessive
concern over the relationship between food choices and health concerns such as
asthma, digestive problems, low mood, anxiety or allergies
·
Increasing
avoidance of foods because of food allergies, without medical advice
·
Noticeable
increase in consumption of supplements, herbal remedies or probiotics /
macrobiotics
·
Drastic
reduction in opinions of acceptable food choices, such that the sufferer may
eventually consume fewer than 10 foods
·
Irrational
concern over food preparation techniques, especially washing of food or
sterilization of utensils
Similar to a
woman suffering with bulimia or anorexia, a woman with orthorexia may find that
her food obsessions begin to hinder everyday activities. Her strict rules and
beliefs about food may lead her to become socially isolated, and result in
anxiety or panic attacks in extreme cases. Worsening emotional symptoms can
indicate the disease may be progressing into a serious eating disorder:
·
Feelings
of guilt when deviating from strict diet guidelines
·
Increase
in amount of time spent thinking about food
·
Regular
advance planning of meals for the next day
·
Feelings
of satisfaction, esteem, or spiritual fulfillment from eating
"healthy"
·
Thinking
critical thoughts about others who do not adhere to rigorous diets
·
Fear
that eating away from home will make it impossible to comply with diet
·
Distancing
from friends or family members who do not share similar views about food
·
Avoiding
eating food bought or prepared by others
·
Worsening
depression, mood swings or anxiety
What
are the Effects of Orthorexia?
Orthorexia
symptoms are serious, chronic, and go beyond a lifestyle choice. Obsession with
healthy food can progress to the point where it crowds out other activities and
interests, impairs relationships, and even becomes physically dangerous. When
this happens, orthorexia takes on the dimensions of a true eating disorder such
as anorexia or bulimia. One effect of this drive to eat only the right foods
(and perhaps only in the right ways) is that it can give a person with
orthorexia a sense of superiority to others. This can put a strain on
relationships with family and friends, as relationships become less important
than holding to dietary patterns.
Maintaining an
obsession with health food may cause a restriction of calories merely because
available food isn't considered to be good enough. The person with orthorexia
may lose enough weight to give her a body mass index consistent with someone
with anorexia (i.e., less than 18.5). If the dietary restrictions are too
severe, malnutrition can result. In rare cases, particularly in the case of
women with unaddressed co-occurring disorders or another addiction, orthorexia
may result in severe malnutrition and weight loss, which can cause cardiac
complications or even death.
How
are Anorexia Nervosa and Orthorexia Similar?
Orthorexia is a
term with varying levels of acceptance in the eating disorder treatment community.
Some eating disorder specialists regard orthorexia as a discrete diagnosis like
anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Others, however, believe that patients
with orthorexia symptoms are actually suffering from anorexia. Sufferers of
orthorexia and anorexia may show similarities such as:
·
Desire
to achieve control over their lives through control of food intake
·
Seeking
self-esteem and spiritual fulfillment through controlling food intake
·
Citing
undiagnosed food allergies as rationale for avoiding food
·
Co-occurring
disorders such as OCD or obsessive compulsive personality disorder
·
Elaborate
rituals about food that may result in social isolation
How
are Orthorexia and Anorexia Nervosa Different?
Obsession with
weight is one of the primary signs of anorexia, bulimia, and other eating
disorders, but is not a symptom of orthorexia. Instead, the object of the
orthorexic's obsession is with the health implications of their dietary
choices. While a person with anorexia restricts food intake in order to lose weight,
a person with orthorexia wants to feel pure, healthy and natural. The focus is
on quality of foods consumed rather than quantity.
Signs and
symptoms of eating disorders must be evaluated in the context of a person's
feelings, emotions, and self esteem. It's crucial to seek appropriate clinical
advice from a professional with experience treating orthorexia, anorexia and
other psychiatric conditions. The obsessive tendencies associated with
orthorexia can indicate a co-occurring disorder that should be diagnosed and
treated by a psychiatrist.
See yourself here? If anything is
consuming your thoughts, energy, time and resources, to the point of causing
negative results which impact your life, it has crossed the line. Think about
this scripture:
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
1
Corinthians 14:40
Now think of the word eating disorder. If the behaviors and habits
are extreme and causing anxiety, it is disordered. God can help us; He tells us
He will:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way
you should go: I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalm 32:8
And, we need to realize our lives, our
habits and behaviors will never be 100% perfect. Yes, there will be junk food
and other less than healthy choices out there. But we’re not to be ruled by
them, to be anxious about them.
“All
things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are
lawful for me, but all things edify not.”
1
Corinthians 10:23
“All
things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are
lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Remember that as you focus on caring
for your temple. Stewardship does not require perfection; I believe it requires
looking for God’s guidance, wisdom and help.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5
Copyright © 2014 by Sheryle Cruse
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