Ever
had a client or patient (or yourself) that just seemed a bit too controlling
about their diet? Perhaps, going out to eat sparks anxiety or the thought
of missing a workout, “but Tuesday is my leg day”.
The Academy defines orthorexia
as: “an unhealthy fixation on eating only
healthy or "pure" foods – was originally defined as a disordered
eating behavior in the '90s, but experts believe it has been gaining steam in
recent years, fed by the profusion of foods marketed as healthy and organic,
and by the media's often conflicting dietary advice. Like anorexia nervosa,
orthorexia is a disorder rooted in food restriction. Unlike anorexia, for
othorexics, the quality instead
of the quantity of
food is severely restricted.”
Along with orthorexia is exercise
bulimia. Recently, Mika Brzezinski, from
Morning Joe published Obsessed. It details her journey with binge eating,
exercise bulimia, and behavioral health issues she sought help for, along with
her best friend, who had to lose weight.
The two women had the same goal: to be healthier, while they had
different paths to lead to the same road.
A revealing article
in Elle illustrates how editor
Johanna Cox struggled and admitted to her over exercising habits while on a set
for a reality show.
The
two conditions don’t always overlap as with Cox and Brzezinski’s experiences
but both conditions are used as a coping mechanism for underlying issues.
Academy
of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson Majorie Nolan, MS, RDN, CDN, SCSM-HFS
stated in a recent Academy article, “if someone is orthorexic, they typically
avoid anything processed, like white flour or sugar. A food is virtually
untouchable unless it's certified organic or a whole food. Even something like
whole-grain bread – which is a very healthy, high-fiber food – is off limits
because it's been processed in some way.”
Additional
triggers to watch for are:
·
Skipping meals or
social engagements
·
Anxiety over
missing workouts
·
Obsession over
food, skipping certain foods or food groups
Encouraging
the client to “talk to someone” such as a licensed counselor can initiate the
road to recovery. Additional information
can be found at the National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated
Disorders, http://www.anad.org/.
