Thanks to many of your blog posts, I learned that last week was National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. You had some great, insightful posts on intuitive eating and on celebrating our bodies for the amazing things they enable us to do.
When one thinks of eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating come to mind. But in this post, I want to highlight another eating disorder, because I feel it’s the one to which we healthy-living bloggers and readers can probably most relate:
Orthorexia Nervosa
Orthorexia Nervosa is characterized by an excessive focus on eating healthy foods. Basically, its sufferers start out with a simple desire to live a healthy lifestyle, but they become so preoccupied with eating healthily that it becomes an unhealthy obsession.
Unlike with anorexia, orthorexics don’t necessarily think they’re fat. Their underlying motivation, therefore, is not to be thin or lose weight, but to be “pure.” However, with such restrictive diets, they can become just as malnourished as anorexics. People suffering might avoid certain foods, such as non-organic foods, cooked foods, or processed foods. (Feel free to click over to the following post for more about my thoughts on processed foods.)
This doesn’t mean that every vegan, raw foodist, or person who strives to eat a healthy diet has orthorexia. It’s only when the healthy diet becomes an obsession; when a person spends hours planning out his/her “perfect” diet, calculating nutrients, preparing everything in a very specific way (and not letting anyone else prepare his/her food), that one can be seen to have a problem.
People suffering from orthorexia may display some of the following signs:
- Feeling virtuous about what they eat, but not enjoying their food much
- Continually cutting foods from their diet
- Experiencing a reduced quality of life or social isolation because their diet makes it difficult for them to eat anywhere but at home
- Feeling critical of, or superior to, others who do not eat as healthily they do
- Skipping foods they once enjoyed in order to eat the “right” foods
- Choosing to eat foods based solely on nutritional value, instead of eating what they’re craving
- Feeling guilt or self-loathing when they stray from their diet
- Feeling in total control when they eat the “correct” diet
I can definitely see myself, if not careful, displaying some of the other orthorexic tendencies, like feeling critical or looking down on certain foods, such as white bread, white pasta, and white rice, deeming them “valueless.” Does having one of the characteristics mean I have orthorexia?
No, of course not.
But I do have to remind myself that just because it’s white bread does not mean it’s worthless. After all, a food is so much more than its numerical nutritional value. The French have been eating white bread for years, the Japanese eat white rice, the Italians enjoy white pasta… and so on.
Sure, it’s great to eat a healthy diet 90% of the time, mostly choosing whole-grains over white ones. But honestly, a little nutritionally valueless piece of white-flour-white-sugar cake every now and then is not going to hurt you. It’s not something you should feel guilty about, but something to be enjoyed! And the enjoyment you can get out of eating it will boost your mental (and thus physical) health! My great-grandma ate processed foods, drank coffee, and—as an Italian—loved her daily servings of white pasta. But one thing my great-grandma did NOT invite into her life was stress. She lived well into her 90s.
There’s a lesson to be learned here: Stress and guilt are much more detrimental to one’s health than eating a few refined grains every now and then. In the end, “Orthorexia Nervosa” is just a label. Whether you fit that label or not, we can all probably benefit from the reminder that food is only one component to a healthy life. Eat what your body truly craves, exercise (but not excessively), feed your soul, and–above all–try to stress as little as possible. Such is the way to a healthy life. (Sounds like something Confucius would say!)
What are your thoughts on all of this?
Wow. This post has really opened my eyes. I’ve never heard of Orthorexia…but I do show a lot of the characteristics. 🙁 I went from obsessive calorie counting to stopping that and simply enjoying whole, unprocessed foods (having intolerance to both refined sugars and dairy help too) but STILL find myself thinking “i’m fat” and such negative talk. It’s slightly hyprocritical because I really dislike hate talk and try and love my body as much as I can! But I still find myself coming up with EXCUSES as to why I shouldn’t exercise, WHY I ate this “unhealthy” food item, etc etc,
It’s a long road, I guess.
Well said, sister!
I must say, I do fight the “superior/critical” issue now and again, but then I remind myself that judgement is judgement no matter what flavor it comes in and I cut it out.
🙂 Good post!
Nice post. It is also good to remember that you do not know why someone maybe eating the white foods. For example, my son is allergic to brans…yep…no brown rice, whole wheat, oat bran…nothing allowed. So as long as this allergy persists he can eat many healthy items– but will be eating white bread, rice, etc.
Have you read the book “In Defense of Food”? I just finished reading it and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in true health and disease and sickness prevention through food. It seems like something you would enjoy reading. I’m realizing now that this post is over a year old (I just googled something and it came up), so don’t know if you’ll see this or not. But I’ve really enjoyed your blog.
I haven’t read it yet, but I know everyone says it’s good!
Honestly everyone who is pretending that you do not have an eating disorder are “enablers”. You look very sick & I think people should be telling you so that you stop living in denial.
Wow.. talk about harsh with that anon comment above >.> If they really knew abything about EDs they’d know you can’t just see them. They’re mental disorders. I’m not gonna lie, I saw Katie and thought “Oh my gosh, what if she’s ill? She looks like I used to!” But she does not display disordered behaviours, she is simply health-concious.
I’m a recovering anorexic, and when I was told to gain weight, I was told to eat as I used to- I’ve always eaten lots of cakes and chocolate, but I’d never gained enough weight to be an average BMI, but health messages plague my mind since the ED. But that’s why I love this blog- Healthy cake!! I’d love to try veganism but as a student I’m worried it’ll be expensive to get the yummy high-nutrition foods other than veggies. So ooh, I’ll ask that now- is it expensive being vegan?
Im making this this morning!! (: haven’t had oatmeal in a while! Im using oatgroats- hope it works out!
wait… i mean’t to put this comment under the oatmeal post. my bad!
LOL! I was wondering!
Katie,
Thank you so much for this post! I have been battling a endless war with anorexia/bulimia for almost 8 months now, and until reading this post I had never even heard of orthorexia. But it is the SPITTING IMAGE of me. I constantly find myself unable to go out with friends because of a tempting food, or feeling “superior” or “in control” due to my healthy food choices. Now that I know it’s not me just being a (excuse me) hard ass, I may be able t get a grip on reality. Another great life tool to add to the belt!
Hi Katie!
Its me again! I think I have this disorder but Oh my goodness you just opened up a new door for me! You and my mother have been saying the same thing! I always try and eat healthy. Whole grains, veggies, fruits, etc. I rarely eat processed food but I let this take control of me and I was getting obsessed! Even my mother said so and she just kept on telling me to try and enjoy life while I can! If I wanted pancakes for dinner… eat pancakes! I kept on going by the book on how to eat “properly and when to eat it and what to eat at what time” blah blah blah. Well im sick of it! Im going to live my life the way I want to live it and Im not going to live it by some stupid diet rule book, and you think people 1,000 years ago lived this way? NO!…. Life is too short as you and my mother said! What if something happens tomorrow? I’ll look back and regret not living my life to the fullest! Ugh, Im glad I came upon your blog and I know Im not the only one going thru this! Im not talking about you… I know you are living your life but Im talking about the other commenters I have been reading from. Not so be weird but I love you, Kate! Thank you.. I’ll be stopping by many times. I feel like I can move on and be a happier person and just me ME again!