topic Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession in Wellness

Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

novamc1 — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 18:05:53 GMT

by Barbara Quinn, Monterey County Herald

____________________________

OBSESSING OVER GOOD EATING CAN TURN UNHEALTHY

When does one’s concern for proper nutrition turn into a pathological condition? When the desire to eat a healthful diet turns into an unhealthy obsession, say experts.

Mental health experts call it “orthorexia nervosa” which literally means “proper appetite ... carried to the extreme.”

Hey, we all get a little crazy about food at times, right? I went through my share of rigid eating habits in my younger years. Orthorexia is rigid eating on steroids. Not to be confused with anorexia or bulimia which focus on the quantity of food eaten, those with orthorexia focus on the quality of food eaten. Eating becomes a ritual. And any food believed to be unhealthy or impure is rigidly avoided.

In this desire to achieve a perfect diet, many end up with nutritional deficiencies, medical complications and not much fun in their lives. That’s why some have described orthorexia as “a disease disguised as a virtue.”

Many experts recognise orthorexia as an obsessive-compulsive-type of eating disorder although the American Psychiatric Association has not yet made it an official diagnosis.

Nevertheless, in 1997, Dr Steven Bratman coined the term “orthorexia” and devised these questions that indicate a tendency toward this condition:

-- Do you care more about the virtue of what you eat than the pleasure you receive from eating it?
-- Do you spend more than three hours a day thinking about healthy foods?
--Do you look down on other people who do not eat like you?
-- Has the quality of your life decreased as the quality of your diet increased?
--Do you feel intensely guilty if you stray from your diet?

If these are indicators of disordered eating, let’s turn them around to look at what most experts would consider normal eating:

--You’re more preoccupied with living life than you are with food. You take time to plan balanced meals, shop for and prepare healthful food but it doesn’t take over your entire day.
-- You actually enjoy a variety of healthful foods and you make a point to include fresh ingredients in your meals. But you don’t necessarily look down on others who may not share the same joy in your dietary choices.
--You don’t preach to your children or others that certain foods are made by the devil. Instead, you set a good example by choosing healthful foods most of the time. And you recognise that movie popcorn is not going to kill you.
--You strive to make reasonable decisions about food, such as saying no to fried Oreos at the county fair. But you might share an ice cream cone with your grandchildren without feeling bad about it.
--You don’t avoid social gatherings simply because some of the food may not be up to your standards. You make reasonable choices within the choices you have

-- You realise that sometimes life happens and perfect meals are not always a reality.

You forgive yourself and go on. – Tribune News Service

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

rms1954 — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 18:25:47 GMT

They have to put a name to everything and turned it into a condition.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

mom2four0418 — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 19:01:17 GMT

@rms1954 wrote:
They have to put a name to everything and turned it into a condition.

Have you ever suffered from an eating disorder? I can assure you that they are medical conditions.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

SeaMaiden — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 19:01:48 GMT

I am sure this is what I have.

orthorexia nervosa”

I was anorexic in my early teens to about age 23( 1971-1980)

I switched fom being really manic about just being thin......to being manic about HEALTHY foods and taking care of my body. I have been in the heathy active lifestyle mode now for many many years. I think it is a positive thing for my general health as I go into my mid 60's....I am average weight, good BP....no medications. But I know orthorexia nervosa is a control issue....and is just part of my make up from past eating disorders.

I eat a very strict diet....never stray.... lots of fresh vegetables....only low sugar, healthy fats....nutrient dense food. Always read labels and no junk food ever. It is not that I do not think other food taste good.....I just do not ALLOW myself to at anything off the healthy food list I allow.

I am not concerned about it as I am not a social butterfly and so I do not feel like I am missing out on eating party or holiday food. Many times friends and family make you feel like you are odd to not eat how they eat....( just like with Anorexia when you do not eat and people make comments) I do think because of only eating healthy, am less social.

I do not look down on others for what they eat. I try never to judge others.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

RetRN — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 19:12:38 GMT

Everything in moderation works for me. Use common sense, sugary and greasy foods are never a good idea. Fad diets and gimmicks get people in big trouble.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

cherry — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 19:18:28 GMT

It's a pita when they think they know more than specialists ,about other peoples diseases, and decide they are going to make everyone eat like they do, even those not interested, and firmly opposed to their eating regime.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

chrystaltree — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 20:03:02 GMT

Whatever. Everything has to be a disease now. Logically, healthy eating develops into restrictive eating or an obsession......it's no longer healthy eating.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

QueenDanceALot — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 20:23:48 GMT

It is being looked at as a disorder, not a disease. There is a difference.

I'm big into healthy eating, but I will indulge in "bad" things now and then. It is near to impossible to be any sort of social person and adhere 100% to a strict diet.

I go by the rule that it's how you eat 90 percent of the time that matters in the long run.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

cherry — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 20:50:03 GMT

I am not referring to the article ,but to posters, who won't stop trying to shove their food views ,on people who want no part of them

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

Sooner — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:26:48 GMT

@cherry wrote:
I am not referring to the article ,but to posters, who won't stop trying to shove their food views ,on people who want no part of them

@cherry Tiresome and rude to others isn't it?

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

cherry — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:28:17 GMT

Yes and they know I will never eat like this. I can't think of anything more replusive than a cooked carrot in a hot dog bun @Sooner

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

QueenDanceALot — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:29:02 GMT

@cherry wrote:
I am not referring to the article ,but to posters, who won't stop trying to shove their food views ,on people who want no part of them

@cherry

That may be a different topic, though. Whether or not those you speak of are suffering from this disorder. Was this topic started to discuss the general topic or certain posters on this board?

The easiest thing to do, IMO, is to just ignore those who you feel are "trying to shove their food views on people who want no part of them".

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

cherry — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:30:56 GMT

Easier said than done I think these type of people are just like the people on the posted article, only with a mission to change to world..despite the fact not many want to be changed

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

Sooner — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:33:18 GMT

@cherry wrote:
Yes and they know I will never eat like this. I can't think of anything more replusive than a cooked carrot in a hot dog bun @Sooner

@cherry Is this a trick question? Is the answer TWO carrots in a hot dog bun?????

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

QueenDanceALot — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:38:46 GMT

@cherry wrote:
Easier said than done I think these type of people are just like the people on the posted article, only with a mission to change to world..despite the fact not many want to be changed

@cherry

*shrug* I find it pretty easy to ignore those who I feel are intrusive and behave in an obnoxious way.

Those wanting to "change the world" is another topic altogether, IMO. There's plenty in this world that needs changing and I applaud those who work to change those things. Off topic, I guess though....

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

World Traveler — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:57:50 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:

I do not look down on others for what they eat. I try never to judge others.

@SeaMaiden We need more people like you.

I'm not referring to anything anyone has posted on this thread, but I do find that what you have stated above has happened on other threads by some posters......people posting as though those who differ with them are wrong, and tend to be judgmental. When I see their name on a post/thread, I don't even take the time to read what they say, because I know they are proclaiming something that they believe everyone else should do/think.

I kind of go with the axiom of "It's okay for you to believe what you believe; it is NOT okay for you to demand others believe what you believe."

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

mom2four0418 — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:26:49 GMT

This is from the National Eating Disorders Association. Looking down on what others eat is but one possible symptom. As with all eating disorders, the person who suffers the most, is the one with the eating disorder.

WARNING SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF ORTHOREXIA

Compulsive checking of ingredient lists and nutritional labels
An increase in concern about the health of ingredients
Cutting out an increasing number of food groups (all sugar, all carbs, all dairy, all meat, all animal products)
An inability to eat anything but a narrow group of foods that are deemed ‘healthy’ or ‘pure’
Unusual interest in the health of what others are eating
Spending hours per day thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events
Showing high levels of distress when ‘safe’ or ‘healthy’ foods aren’t available
Obsessive following of food and ‘healthy lifestyle’ blogs on Twitter and Instagram
Body image concerns may or may not be present

HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF ORTHOREXIA

Like anorexia, orthorexia involves restriction of the amount and variety of foods eaten, making malnutrition likely. Therefore, the two disorders share many of the same physical consequences.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

QueenDanceALot — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:43:37 GMT

@mom2four0418 wrote:
This is from the National Eating Disorders Association. Looking down on what others eat is but one possible symptom. As with all eating disorders, the person who suffers the most, is the one with the eating disorder.

WARNING SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF ORTHOREXIA
Compulsive checking of ingredient lists and nutritional labels
An increase in concern about the health of ingredients
Cutting out an increasing number of food groups (all sugar, all carbs, all dairy, all meat, all animal products)
An inability to eat anything but a narrow group of foods that are deemed ‘healthy’ or ‘pure’
Unusual interest in the health of what others are eating
Spending hours per day thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events
Showing high levels of distress when ‘safe’ or ‘healthy’ foods aren’t available
Obsessive following of food and ‘healthy lifestyle’ blogs on Twitter and Instagram
Body image concerns may or may not be present
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF ORTHOREXIA
Like anorexia, orthorexia involves restriction of the amount and variety of foods eaten, making malnutrition likely. Therefore, the two disorders share many of the same physical consequences.

Some of us cut out a "group" of foods because our bodies don't tolerate them. That's not Orthorexia, it's self preservation.

If a person cuts out all sugar, I can't see how they will develop some sort of malnutrition from it. And some of us don't tolerate dairy and suffer no deficiencies from avoiding it.

There is a group here (and elsewhere) that insist we eat all things "in moderation", not considering that a "moderate" amount of some things is quite problematic for some.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

kittyloo — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:46:16 GMT

as soon as i read this, one poster came to mind.

Re: Healthy Eating Can Become Unhealthy Obsession

mom2four0418 — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:52:22 GMT

@kittyloo wrote:
as soon as i read this, one poster came to mind.

This thread is about an eating disorder. Do you have personal knowledge that a poster has one?