Orthorexia Nervosa: When the Diet-Conscious are Too Conscious
August 17th, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Headline
A large number of mental health professionals are likely familiar with the symptoms and consequences of various eating disorder types such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. A fixation on the volume of food consumption is a serious concern for which many seek therapy, but in the context of a society becoming increasingly focused on healthier lifestyles, a new type of eating disorder is being observed and described. Orthorexia nervosa, as the issue is being called, involves debilitating over-concentration on the “purity” of food, and may have a negative impact on nutrition as eaters avoid entire food groups or nutrient sources in an effort to eat well. While enjoying a healthier lifestyle may be a valuable suggestion for people of all walks of life, understanding of proper nutrition and healthy thinking in tandem with healthy eating may need a stronger voice.
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learned about this after talking to a therapist about my daughter, who doesn’t have an eating disorder but is preoccupied about eating healthy. i think it also includes other symptoms like basic fears about health and different obsessions and behaviors that go with it. how can I find a list of all the sympots, anyone know?
I think I have this! Sometimes i will not even go out with friends over fears about where they are eating and how the resataurant prepares the food. My friends have all kind of laughed it off, but I do not want to lose them over this. How could I find someone in my area to talk to about this because it does freak me out a little too.
You know when I read things like this it sometimes makes me feel like diagnoses like these are only serving the purpose of making people feel like there is something wrong with them. What is wrong with being concerned about the things that we consume and put into our bodies, in addition to caring about the foods that our families eat? There is nothing wrong with being health conscious and passing that along to your kids. It is important to know where the foods that you are eating come from and the processes that they have gone through before reaching your table. That only makes sense to me. I don’t call that a disorder- I call that a reality and concern over your own well being.
There’s nothing wrong with being health conscious Steph. I agree. It’s when you take it to extremes and cut out entire food groups that you do damage to yourself and your family. A balanced diet doesn’t do that and malnutrition is not the result of a balanced diet.
Petra Ness: In response to your question, the signs and symptoms of orthorexia nervosa may include -
* Planning their daily menu more than 24 hours in advance
* Getting more pleasure from the perceived virtue of food than from actually eating it
* Decreased quality of life as the focus on “better” quality food increases
* Being increasingly rigid and self-critical about their eating
* Defining self-esteem and self worth by the quality of food they eat
* Having a lower opinion of people who do not eat what they deem healthy
* Describing healthy food as “pure,” “proper,” or “correct”
* Eating only at home where they have total control of the food, therefore withdrawing socially
* Feeling guilt or self-loathing when they eat “incorrect” food
Information sourced from The International Eating Disorders Institute. I hope you find that helpful.
The MyPyramid.gov site is based on the food pyramid dietary guidelines jointly agreed upon by the HHS and USDA which are updated every 5 years. Those are next due for revision in 2010. You can create personalized eating plans for your whole family from 2 years old and up.
You can compare your eating habits to what’s recommended there and see how healthy your diet really is.