Recently,
there’s been a contest of sorts, declaring, “Name a food and I won’t eat it.”
Pro-eating disorder blogs, posters, t-shirts and images spouting this statement
are prevalent throughout the internet.
This
sentiment disturbs me. Triggering? Pro-ana? Pro-Mia? Anti-acceptance of self?
Yes to all three.
Again,
Orthorexia pops up.
Orthorexia Symptoms and Effects
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.
What Should Parents or Friends Say If They Are Concerned?
learn
mor
Orthorexia is a very serious eating disorder, particularly
if it is accompanied by co-occurring psychiatric or addictive disorders, and
significant weight loss or dietary imbalance. Like anorexia nervosa, bulimia
nervosa, and other eating disorders, orthorexia is a medical disease that can
result in irreversible health complications, including death.”
Hindsight has shown me I’ve also been
touched by this eating disorder. Concerning recovery, it’s about process. And
just as my eating disorders have morphed, one into another, so has my recovery
from them.
There was a time, with bulimia, I ate
everything “unhealthy” in large amounts. It was about feeling deprived,
hopeless and in desperate need for comfort. So, foods rich in fat, fat and
sugar were my answer. However, I learned they weren’t, as, no matter how much I
ate of them, my life was still painful. I was looking in the wrong direction.
And, I believe orthorexia started for
me in the early stages of my recovery process. As I got into therapy and dealt
with painful issues, my buzzword was “healthy.” I was obsessed with it. Now, I
wanted to eat completely healthy all the time. There’s nothing wrong with
healthy eating, in and of itself. We need to eat nutritious things which
encourage, not destroy health.
However, with my perspective on
healthy eating, I regarded it as an oppressive rule rather than a guideline.
The rule demanded perfection.
However, the guideline encouraged the
power of choice. And, whether I knew it or not, felt it or not, I could make another choice.
And so, the evolution of my recovery continues
to focus more on that principle. It’s not perfect. But it’s about not attaching
such extreme “worst case scenario” results to the food, be it healthy or not as
healthy. I can always make another choice about what I’m doing. It’s freeing
instead of stifling.
And what’s the most freeing in that
perspective is the relaxed approach toward perfection.
“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.”
Life is not perfect; I am not perfect.
It’s not an attainable standard. “Healthier,” however, can be. “Kind to oneself” can
be. “Human,” like it or not, is.
“For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God.”
Romans
3:23
“For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”
Psalms 103:14
And, when we come up short (and we
will), God is there with His perspective and help, even dealing with these food
and “trigger” situations.
“I will instruct you
and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalm 32:8
It’s acceptance, not rejection. We
need to remember that. So, let’s eat THAT on a daily basis!
Copyright © 2015 by
Sheryle Cruse
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