Orthorexia

02/25/2018

What is Orthorexia?

     Orthorexia is currently not defined as an eating disorder within the DSM V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition, better known as the big book of psychiatric, or mental, terms). The root words tell what the condition means, though. “Ortho” means right, or correct, while “orexia” relates to appetite. Orthorexia can be defined simply as the infatuation with correct or proper eating.

     Many people quickly jump aboard the “clean-eating” train, which is where I found myself almost three years ago when I developed a strong desire to be healthy and “prevent” disease. Orthorexia is different, however, in that the individual goes beyond clean eating habits and develops an outright obsession with consuming “pure,” “whole,” “unprocessed” foods, and the like. This serious pattern of disordered thinking regarding eating can truly lead to a host of additional medical, emotional, and psychological problems. It can be tricky to “diagnosis” (due to the lack of knowledge, not be classified as a disorder, and the fact that most people find many aspects to, in fact, be healthy) and is often misunderstood. Symptoms can be vague or non-specific, and similar to multiple other mental illnesses, involves a misperception and misconception of self-thoughts, which tend to be confusing to outsiders.

HEALTHY?

     Orthorexia can involve only choosing to eat foods (and drinks) that are pure, or what the individual deems to be “healthy.” Individuals who have orthorexia may also be fascinated with the nutritional “value” of foods, such as the quantity and quality of macro and micronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals). They may purposefully avoid foods not prepared themselves in order to control what is being ingested and may have anxiety around situations involving food. In order to accommodate these unhealthy and obsessive thoughts, individuals with orthorexia may allow themselves to be socially isolated. Another option to getting maneuvering around these controlling thoughts is to control the environment they are in by providing food that was self-prepared or what they consider to be acceptable.

     Perhaps one of the largest, yet hidden, symptoms of orthorexia is the mental preoccupation with thinking of food, nutritional content, and meal timing throughout the day. In contrast, a person without orthorexia may be contemplating what to do after school or work, who they might visit with over the weekend, what game to play with their spouse or children, or an upcoming event that they want to attend. This obsession with the food available to choose from and the nutritional content the food provides pulls a person out of the present moment and into their intrusive and invasive thoughts. These thoughts can create a cycle of perpetually increasing more and more controlling behaviors and attitudes towards food.

     So why blog about this condition that isn’t even recognized as a disorder?

ORTHOREXIC

     Many individuals experience controlling and obsessive thoughts over food. If these continue for a length of time, the individual may act upon these. This action and subsequent feelings of being “pure” or “better” than someone else based off of eating can make the individual falsely believe that they are experiencing health, when in reality, they are consciously choosing to make detrimental decisions regarding their mental, emotional, and physical health. Consequences of orthorexia can include decreased energy, low levels of certain nutrients in the body (namely carbohydrates and fats, which are necessary to the body as this is how fuel is obtained), irritability, anger, loss of focus, weakness, poor concentration, coldness, weight loss, and even death.

     Unlike diets, which can be easily stopped or started, most individuals with orthorexia find their habits to truly be patterns of thought and action that are difficult, if not nearly impossible, to stop. Individuals with orthorexia likely require professional help to break the chain of obsessive and compulsive thoughts.

What can be done about it?

     If you or someone you know is experiencing the symptoms listed of orthorexia, please seek help. A counselor, dietician, therapist, or medical doctor may be a good place to start. However, if you try reaching out for help and feel your concerns are dismissed, please try again, even more than once if necessary.

     From personal experience, I tried to express my concern and need for help from a trusted supervisor who had a degree in counseling and a medical doctor, but when I felt ignored, I went to a licensed professional counselor. Roxanne listened to my voice of concern, allowed me to freely express my feelings and emotions regarding my food intake and thoughts, provided a safe space for questions and answers, and then told me to look into possibly receiving treatment at a center for eating disorders. While I still have a long ways to go, I have been able to make progress regarding my obsession and now choose to believe that I know my body best, and when it needs food, I feed it, even if my mind is telling me otherwise. I know and understand my body so well that when I am desperately craving something, it is likely because the cells in my body (my exercise science background) truly need the nutrients provided by that food.

     I am blogging about this because I know and believe orthorexia to be a true, and very real, pattern of disordered eating and thinking. I know many individuals who also struggle alongside of me and there are many others who this condition affects. I want to be someone who speaks out about mental health and encourages others to help themselves and those around them. A goal that I have is to be able to present this and other informational content to the general public so that they can learn to recognize and respond to individuals in their lives who may need help with seeking treatment for orthorexia or other eating disorder conditions. Reacting and speaking appropriately to the person is key to positively impacting the situation and allowing the person a safe space to receive the help and education that they need.

     In addition to seeking help or assisting someone else in doing so, you can also contact your local legislator to petition for increased support, publicity, knowledge, and education regarding eating disorders.

     The desires that bring about orthorexia, whether health, image, or something else, can be fine and acceptable, in moderation. When these thoughts become the forefront of our minds, however, the results can be disastrous. Having a support system in place to help get an individual with orthorexia back on track is instrumental in repressing detrimental thoughts. Disordered thoughts about eating can be just as harmful as eating disorders and getting help is the first step to a more positive, healthy life.

     I started this blog as a memoir to share some of my life stories with you. My goal is that these encourage and educate you on how to live a more joyful, healthier, full life; one of hope.

     I write about my fascination with whole foods, my love of Jesus, my struggles, my childhood stories, my passion for education, and my devotion to creating a healthy life (body, mind, and spirit) for every person in the world.