Orthorexia? The new big thing in eating disorders...

VulgarGirl · July 2015

sarahufl said:

southernbelle0915 said:

novella1186 said:

I agree with Maggie.

It also drives me nuts when parents instill this kind of eating on their kids. H's SIL is a bit... odd? and will only let her daughter eat organic, sugar-free, etc etc.

Last time H's brother and his daughter came to visit, SIL didn't even come with but she emailed a list of foods to H's mom that she needed to go buy from Whole Foods and instructed that her daughter could have nothing but those things.

It was so strict and so narrow that I thought, "JFC. Let the kid be a kid a little." I mean my parents encouraged me to drink water and eat veggies, but they didn't have a breakdown if I ate some Lucky Charms. I don't like the extreme foods thing, on any end of the spectrum.

Personally, I would not do the bolded. If a kid gets dropped off at my house and the mom/dad sends me a big list of crap they want me to buy from Whole Foods....sorrynotsorry, that kid is going to eat whatever we're eating.

If the parent gives me pre-packaged meals for "Dinner - Tuesday" or "Breakfast - Wednesday" that comply with their special ingredients and preparation then fine, whatever. I will gladly serve those meals. But I will not purchase a special grocery list or cook two meals simply to appease a preference (we are not talking food allergy/sensitivity here).

Wasn't there a thread on this a long time ago? I feel like chicken nuggets with the breading removed was the subject.

IMO, I take care of your kid, I decide what to feed them. Unless, like you said, there is an allergy.

IMO, it's my kid. If I give you food to feed them, you feed them that. I've made that decision as their parent and you need to respect it. Or not take care of my kid.

I am not ok with insisting someone else go out and buy special food for the kid. But if I provide food I want my kid to eat. Or I say "No Oreos" you need to respect my decision of no oreos for my kid. I have my reasons. And as you are not their other parent, you don't need to know my reasons. Unless you actually think physical harm is coming to my child or my child is in danger from the food I am/am not feeding them, STFU it ain't your kid.

TrixieJess · July 2015

My guess is that those of you who feel that people who do these things and feel this way about food should "suck it up" have never dealt with disordered eating on any level. There is a difference between following a "fad" diet and telling yourself that you can only eat x amount of green beans, x amount of rice, no dairy (dairy makes you fat) and x amount of protein in a day, everyday so that it becomes a mantra and something to strive towards.

Some people latch onto things like "clean eating" or "Gluten free" because it allows them to hide their disordered eating more openly. Maybe instead of judging, take a good hard look at the person who is doing it and figure out if they are following the trend or if this is a pattern that requires help on another level.

sarahufl · July 2015

VulgarGirl said:

sarahufl said:

southernbelle0915 said:

novella1186 said:

I agree with Maggie.

It also drives me nuts when parents instill this kind of eating on their kids. H's SIL is a bit... odd? and will only let her daughter eat organic, sugar-free, etc etc.

Last time H's brother and his daughter came to visit, SIL didn't even come with but she emailed a list of foods to H's mom that she needed to go buy from Whole Foods and instructed that her daughter could have nothing but those things.

It was so strict and so narrow that I thought, "JFC. Let the kid be a kid a little." I mean my parents encouraged me to drink water and eat veggies, but they didn't have a breakdown if I ate some Lucky Charms. I don't like the extreme foods thing, on any end of the spectrum.

Personally, I would not do the bolded. If a kid gets dropped off at my house and the mom/dad sends me a big list of crap they want me to buy from Whole Foods....sorrynotsorry, that kid is going to eat whatever we're eating.

If the parent gives me pre-packaged meals for "Dinner - Tuesday" or "Breakfast - Wednesday" that comply with their special ingredients and preparation then fine, whatever. I will gladly serve those meals. But I will not purchase a special grocery list or cook two meals simply to appease a preference (we are not talking food allergy/sensitivity here).

Wasn't there a thread on this a long time ago? I feel like chicken nuggets with the breading removed was the subject.

IMO, I take care of your kid, I decide what to feed them. Unless, like you said, there is an allergy.

IMO, it's my kid. If I give you food to feed them, you feed them that. I've made that decision as their parent and you need to respect it. Or not take care of my kid.

I am not ok with insisting someone else go out and buy special food for the kid. But if I provide food I want my kid to eat. Or I say "No Oreos" you need to respect my decision of no oreos for my kid. I have my reasons. And as you are not their other parent, you don't need to know my reasons. Unless you actually think physical harm is coming to my child or my child is in danger from the food I am/am not feeding them, STFU it ain't your kid.

Providing is different than insisting the caretaker run to Whole Foods and buy it all. I have no problem feeding children under my care what their parent provides. But I won't run out and buy All The Things.

themosthappy91 · July 2015

TrixieJess said:

My guess is that those of you who feel that people who do these things and feel this way about food should "suck it up" have never dealt with disordered eating on any level. There is a difference between following a "fad" diet and telling yourself that you can only eat x amount of green beans, x amount of rice, no dairy (dairy makes you fat) and x amount of protein in a day, everyday so that it becomes a mantra and something to strive towards.

Some people latch onto things like "clean eating" or "Gluten free" because it allows them to hide their disordered eating more openly. Maybe instead of judging, take a good hard look at the person who is doing it and figure out if they are following the trend or if this is a pattern that requires help on another level.

I agree with this and was sort of surprised that many of the responses on here had that vibe. I mean yeah, obviously we all agree that it's best to do things in moderation, healthy eating means meals cooked from scratch but it's fine to have treats from time to time etc.- none of those are controversial positions.

I guess I posted this thinking it would be more of a discussion of actual eating disorders- like I said in a previous post, I have a friend who definitely suffers from this along with other eating disorders. It goes beyond just being obnoxious and AW-ish about your food choices- it's a compulsion.

VulgarGirl · July 2015

themosthappy91 said:

TrixieJess said:

My guess is that those of you who feel that people who do these things and feel this way about food should "suck it up" have never dealt with disordered eating on any level. There is a difference between following a "fad" diet and telling yourself that you can only eat x amount of green beans, x amount of rice, no dairy (dairy makes you fat) and x amount of protein in a day, everyday so that it becomes a mantra and something to strive towards.

Some people latch onto things like "clean eating" or "Gluten free" because it allows them to hide their disordered eating more openly. Maybe instead of judging, take a good hard look at the person who is doing it and figure out if they are following the trend or if this is a pattern that requires help on another level.

I agree with this and was sort of surprised that many of the responses on here had that vibe. I mean yeah, obviously we all agree that it's best to do things in moderation, healthy eating means meals cooked from scratch but it's fine to have treats from time to time etc.- none of those are controversial positions.

I guess I posted this thinking it would be more of a discussion of actual eating disorders- like I said in a previous post, I have a friend who definitely suffers from this along with other eating disorders. It goes beyond just being obnoxious and AW-ish about your food choices- it's a compulsion.

I gotta say...I was pretty confused with what was going on in this thread. Disordered eating is a serious condition. But...most everyone just talked about their normal eating habitis? And how awesome it is to eat balanced.

Which yes, very true and awesome for everyone with healthy relationships with food. High fives (seriously) all around. But...not really what I thought we'd talk about...

justsie · July 2015

VulgarGirl said:

themosthappy91 said:

TrixieJess said:

My guess is that those of you who feel that people who do these things and feel this way about food should "suck it up" have never dealt with disordered eating on any level. There is a difference between following a "fad" diet and telling yourself that you can only eat x amount of green beans, x amount of rice, no dairy (dairy makes you fat) and x amount of protein in a day, everyday so that it becomes a mantra and something to strive towards.

Some people latch onto things like "clean eating" or "Gluten free" because it allows them to hide their disordered eating more openly. Maybe instead of judging, take a good hard look at the person who is doing it and figure out if they are following the trend or if this is a pattern that requires help on another level.

I agree with this and was sort of surprised that many of the responses on here had that vibe. I mean yeah, obviously we all agree that it's best to do things in moderation, healthy eating means meals cooked from scratch but it's fine to have treats from time to time etc.- none of those are controversial positions.

I guess I posted this thinking it would be more of a discussion of actual eating disorders- like I said in a previous post, I have a friend who definitely suffers from this along with other eating disorders. It goes beyond just being obnoxious and AW-ish about your food choices- it's a compulsion.

I gotta say...I was pretty confused with what was going on in this thread. Disordered eating is a serious condition. But...most everyone just talked about their normal eating habitis? And how awesome it is to eat balanced.

Which yes, very true and awesome for everyone with healthy relationships with food. High fives (seriously) all around. But...not really what I thought we'd talk about...

Same here. I was anorexic to 10 years and my biggest excuse for not eating foods was that I was a very strict vegan. I could get out of eating all kinds of stuff that way, especially since I didn't tell anyone until everything was already prepared. I'm sure a lot of people just thought I had healthy eating/ was taking some grand moral stand until my hair started to fall out. I think a lot of "fads" or mainstream eating habits can make easy to come by excuses for people with EDs and cause people that love them to overlook the GIGANTIC WARNING SIGNS.

onefootinthebayou · July 2015

As with anything, I think some of the keys to wellness are research, education, and raising awareness - be it obesity or anorexia.

That's why I said in my initial post that I sensed there was some unhealthy "trend" going around with all these people who take what they put in their bodies to the point of obsession. Now we know it can actually be a disorder and they can potentially get the help they need.

By learning about this, I went from being annoyed & slightly judgy of these people to sympathetic. Not that I'm going to go around diagnosing everyone who carries around a yoga mat and eats kale as an "orthorexic" but learning about this a little bit more adjusted my viewpoint to make me more tolerant. That was the point of the thread IMO.

PrettyGirlLost · July 2015

lyndausvi said:

beachyone15 said:

I try to eat healthy but I don't deprive myself. I know that certain foods aren't good for me, but dammit if I have a craving then I'm likely going to get what I'm craving.

Apparently, DH always thought hot dogs were green until he got older. His mom always bought some kind of veggie or spinach-dogs growing up. She's always tried to instill healthy eating habits to her children. Which in a way I am thankful for because H is not a picky eater and loves vegetables. I just find the green hot dog thing hilarious!

MIL crossed the line the other day though. She made mashed cauliflower (with no salt or butter) and tried to pass it off as "just as good as mashed potatoes". No. Just no.

That is just wrong.

Potatoes are veggies. They grow in the ground, not processed, can be organic. Why the need to replace it with something else? Fuck that. I want a real spud, not another veggie trying to up their status by being be something they are not.

For the record, I like cauliflower. DH does a great roasted cauliflower with a whipped goat cheese dip. OMG. So good. However, cauliflower has no business trying to be just like a potato.

Because starches and carbs and gluten are evil!!!!!! Just like meat and cheese!!!!

My stance is that we evolved as omnivores to eat a balanced diet of meat, starches, and vegetables/fruit, but as long as you aren't proselytizing to me or clogging up my FB newsfeed with junk and fad diets, I don't care what you eat and I'm not going to say a word. And don't say shit about what I'm eating unless I ask you.

However, "detox" and "cleanse" are triggers for me, so if you bandy them about you are going to get a primer on the function and purpose of your damn liver and kidneys. Same with anti-vax and anti-GMO fear mongering. . .

More to the point of the OP, I didn't read that specific link, but I have read about this disorder elsewhere and my understanding is that it's a true, psychological disorder. Hence the "rexia" at the end. This is not your average soccer mom or gym rat jumping on the next fitness bandwagon based on what they saw on the latest episode of Dr. Oz. People with orthorexia need actual psychological intervention to become healthy again, and as a PP said, my understanding is that all eating disorders are about control, not so much food itself.

flbride2015 · July 2015

PrettyGirlLost said:

lyndausvi said:

beachyone15 said:

I try to eat healthy but I don't deprive myself. I know that certain foods aren't good for me, but dammit if I have a craving then I'm likely going to get what I'm craving.

Apparently, DH always thought hot dogs were green until he got older. His mom always bought some kind of veggie or spinach-dogs growing up. She's always tried to instill healthy eating habits to her children. Which in a way I am thankful for because H is not a picky eater and loves vegetables. I just find the green hot dog thing hilarious!

MIL crossed the line the other day though. She made mashed cauliflower (with no salt or butter) and tried to pass it off as "just as good as mashed potatoes". No. Just no.

That is just wrong.

Potatoes are veggies. They grow in the ground, not processed, can be organic. Why the need to replace it with something else? Fuck that. I want a real spud, not another veggie trying to up their status by being be something they are not.

For the record, I like cauliflower. DH does a great roasted cauliflower with a whipped goat cheese dip. OMG. So good. However, cauliflower has no business trying to be just like a potato.

Because starches and carbs and gluten are evil!!!!!! Just like meat and cheese!!!!

My stance is that we evolved as omnivores to eat a balanced diet of meat, starches, and vegetables/fruit, but as long as you aren't proselytizing to me or clogging up my FB newsfeed with junk and fad diets, I don't care what you eat and I'm not going to say a word. And don't say shit about what I'm eating unless I ask you.

However, "detox" and "cleanse" are triggers for me, so if you bandy them about you are going to get a primer on the function and purpose of your damn liver and kidneys. Same with anti-vax and anti-GMO fear mongering. . .

More to the point of the OP, I didn't read that specific link, but I have read about this disorder elsewhere and my understanding is that it's a true, psychological disorder. Hence the "rexia" at the end. This is not your average soccer mom or gym rat jumping on the next fitness bandwagon based on what they saw on the latest episode of Dr. Oz. People with orthorexia need actual psychological intervention to become healthy again, and as a PP said, my understanding is that all eating disorders are about control, not so much food itself.

Ditto. I can't help but educate people on this shit when I see it come across my timeline. Add the whole "organic" craze to the list too. True organic produce is great, but just because it says "organic" on it doesn't mean it's free from pesticides or any healthier than conventional produce.

Orthorexia? The new big thing in eating disorders...

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