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Nutrition Okay hear me out, but does anyone else think that 'orthorexia' is BS..?

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Harry Westgate

Harry Westgate

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Hello everyone,

I'm gonna rant here, might touch some nerves (possibly unlikely), and so won't be offended if this gets taken down, but had to share...

'Orthorexia' is defined as an obsession with eating what one considers healthy foods.

I just found out about this, took an online test (yeah okay, hardly clinical, but still - it was the very first result of a Google search of 'orthorexia self test'), and scored 45%, meaning I may have 'mild orthorexia' - I'd like to have a chat with the creator of that test, and if after asking me a few open questions as opposed to yes/no questions, they genuinely still think that of me, I honestly believe that the world would be a better place without them. That attitude is not okay - I just like eating clean 90% of the time.

Anyway... In an age where obesity, heart disease and all sorts of illnesses are so commonplace, why the hell are we shaming those who are trying to eat healthily??? Granted, if all you think about is how healthy you're eating, and can't stop planning your meals hours in advance all the time, and can't indulge in a treat here and there without rushing to the bathroom to stick your fingers down your throat, then sure, you need help**. But I'm sure such cases are so damn rare that to throw 'mild cases' of an eating disorder at those who literally just care about eating healthily simply cannot be justified when there are so many out there who don't use their bodies and eat far too much of the wrong stuff and so are far more ill than those trying a bit 'too hard' to eat well.

I sincerely apologise if I touch a nerve with anyone here on the Forum, but this really hacked me off. Plus, I'm convinced that most of us here are borderline 'orthorexics' anyway. If I am (the man who once ate 60 chicken McNuggets in half an hour - and WILL manage 100 one day), then I'm sure many of you are. I'd love to see whoever came up with this disorder read The Warrior Diet and see what they think of Ori and his 'obsession' - anyone who's read it cover to cover will know what I mean.

Here's a disorder for you - making yourself and others feel better about eating like an ignorant neanderthal and sitting around like a lazy turd all day, not lifting, and not doing any kind of sport by coming up with BS that shames those who strive to be better humans.

*Drops mic.*

Feel free to comment on how much of a jerk I am, and if there's anyone more schooled on eating disorders (particularly this one) then please speak up and point me in the direction of literature that might inform me better.

Again, I apologise if I touched a nerve with anyone, but I feel I've made my case fairly well (especially given that I'm really vexed as I type this).

Thanks,

Harry
 
Christmas came early for me; I take back all apologies as I've just read that orthorexia isn't even an official eating disorder yet, it's just a proposed one. As such I hope it dies out very soon.
 
As someone who has loved ones with anorexia, which isn't that different to orthorexia, I do disagree.

An obsession with 'clean eating' is not necessarily healthy, as 'clean eating' is a made up term with many different interpretations, based in most cases on no science or piss-poor science. In some people this can lead to a diet severely lacking in important nutrients and lead to health deterioration. It can be a short step from an obsession with 'clean eating' to anorexia, as the ideal body image painted by the media makes body fat seem like a repulsive death sentence. Clearly excessive body fat is bad, but somehow the message has in some peoples eyes changed to 'any' body fat is bad, which is rubbish. It is a modern day fallacy.

I think the problem with what you are saying is you are jumping to the other extreme. No one is saying sitting around all day eating rubbish and doing no sports is good. What 'orthorexia' is is the other extreme, an obsession with 'clean eating' beyond the point where it is healthy. If it is becoming an obsession and taking over your life it is also a problem. If the thought of eating an occasional fish and chips or pizza sends you into a panic and makes you think that you are going to become fat or result in terrible health concerns, or if it is stops you going and eating with friends or family, it may be a problem.

As for Ori, I think he is a BS merchant, as most (maybe all) people selling books telling people they must eat a certain way are.

Clearly a questionnaire based on yes/no questions is irrelevant for something so complex psychologically, and which differs so much from person to person, don't get so offended by it.

And please don't associate eating clean or doing sports with being a better human, that is an incredibly blinkered view of life.
 
@BladesFanUK thank you for your insight. I'd first like to reiterate that I'm 100% with you regarding going into a panic at the thought of having an occasional pizza or what have you. That's well within the realm of needing help.

However, everything I've read so far about orthorexia, which is admittedly little more than the Wikipedia page and a few newspaper articles, the diagnostic criteria appears to be too lenient (is that the right word? Maybe not...) in that if you're even conscious of trying to eat 'clean' (admittedly this is a VERY subjective term), then you've got a pretty high chance of being given the label. I will strive to find more info though; I make no pretences that I know everything about the proposed disorder.

Regarding Ori, I have a very high opinion of him personally, as I've found much of his advice to work for me and improve my all-round well-being, but you're well within your rights to disagree.

Finally, I'm by no means suggesting that being active in and of itself makes one a better person, only that it is an aspect of self-improvement. The same can equally be said for furthering ones education, travelling, etc. etc. etc.
 
It's like being 'a bit OCD'... No! No! Haha - seriously though that's another one, granted not an eating disorder, but still psychological, that I hear sooooo much! I might like a tidy desk, but that doesn't make me OCD!! Same sort of thing.

Still, I've had my rant. Haha, I just dislike anything that sounds like it's getting into the realm of 'fit-shaming', when there is such an abundance of obesity and other physical health issues caused by bad diet (which is perhaps a less subjective term? Perhaps...).

Oh and I do apologise if I caused any offence regarding those you know who have eating disorders. I double-back on my reversed apology in my second post...
 
And also, as someone who has dipped in and out of the realm of less than ideal mental health, I'm aware of the frustration of certain things not being taken seriously. 'Depression' - it's an illness, not an emotion, yet people say they're depressed when they mean they're sad. Again, throwing it around too much.
 
@Harry Westgate, put down your phone, walk away from the computer, and pick up heavy things until the urge to consider such things as orthorexia has passed.

100 years ago, there were many "conditions" that went unidentified or unlabeled but now warrant a course in medical school. Some of those are definitely advancements in medicine while some would be better left alone.

JMO, YMMV.

-S-
 
I appreciate a good rant. Good points and counterpoints. Perhaps the term applies to the vegans who kill their babies with their ideas about eating and morality and ignore nature. That's some kind of disorder.
Rant on, but don't let it interfere with your practice...
 
Turns out I may have a mild case of orthorexia too! At least that's what the self-test said. I answered 2 out of 11 questions correctly.

I think the test is rigged. I took it again and answered "no" to every question. It still said I may have a mild case of orthorexia. The test doesn't appear to have a "You don't have a problem" response.
 
I guess as with any 'diagnosis' the question is does it affect your life.

I really really don't want to get eaten by a lion and would well and truly lose my cool stuck in a cage with one but I can go to a zoo just fine... So its not a phobia. It's not irrational.

If a person can't socialise because the proximity to gluten causes anxiety then they have a problem.
 
There is orthorexia. I think it is more complex than it might seem.
Often, the ones who "suffer" from this ED, have been anoretic, had bulimia or have a long career of dieting and putting on weight and losing weight.
Othorexia often comes with perfectionism and a lack of self love. Eating "clean" gives them guidelines and rules, because they are afraid of losing control- it starts with no control about food and takes over to other areas of life. That is their fear. Food/eating is like a religion...and it is a sin to not play by the rules.
I know a young woman who gives herself points for each thing (including the quality food she eats of course) she does good or right on a day and substracting points, if she fails or hurt someone or did not say thanks or please. By the end of the day she might end up with negative points and is depressed. The next day she wants to do better, eats hardly anything to avoid waste or just tries to use a minimum of resoures.

Well, what I wanted to say: Orthorexia is often a part of an underlying psychological disease. Rather a symptom. But calling it an ED might make it easier to grap it.
Anorexia is more than feeling too fat and Orthorexia is more than wanting to eat healthy/clean.
 
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elli said:
There is orthorexia. I think it is more complex than it might seem.
Often, the ones who "suffer" from this ED, have been anoretic, had bulimia or have a long career of dieting and putting on weight and losing weight.
Othorexia often comes with perfectionism and a lack of self love. Eating "clean" gives them guidelines and rules, because they are afraid of losing control- it starts with no control about food and takes over to other areas of life. That is their fear. Food/eating is like a religion...and it is a sin to not play by the rules.
I know a young woman who gives herself points for each thing (including the quality food she eats of course) she does good or right on a day and substracting points, if she fails or hurt someone or did not say thanks or please. By the end of the day she might end up with negative points and is depressed. The next day she wants to do better, eats hardly anything to avoid waste or just tries to use a minimum of resoures.

Well, what I wanted to say: Orthorexia is often a part of an underlying psychological disease. Rather a symptom. But calling it an ED might make it easier to grap it.
Anorexia is more than feeling too fat and Orthorexia is more than wanting to eat healthy/clean.
Click to expand...

Oh my gosh. This explains me to a T. Thank you for posting this even if it was a while ago.
 
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