Orthorexia: An Obsession With Health Food
The New York Times last night posted a story about orthorexia, a sort of eating disorder in children whose parents have been strict about what they’re allowed to eat.
While scarcely any expert would criticize parents for paying attention to children’s diets, many doctors, dietitians and eating disorder specialists worry that some parents are becoming overzealous, even obsessive, in efforts to engender good eating habits in children. With the best of intentions, these parents may be creating an unhealthy aura around food.
“We’re seeing a lot of anxiety in these kids,” said Cynthia Bulik, the director of the eating disorders program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “They go to birthday parties, and if it’s not a granola cake they feel like they can’t eat it. The culture has led both them and their parents to take the public health messages to an extreme.”
Tiffany Rush-Wilson, an eating disorder counselor in Pepper Pike, Ohio, has seen the same thing. “I have lots of children or adolescent clients or young adults who complain about how their parents micromanage their eating based on their own health standards and beliefs,” she said. “The kids’ eating became very restrictive, and that’s how they came to me.”
This kind of problem includes a dramatic increase in kids who won’t eat certain foods because they believe them to contain pesticides. The Times profiles one woman whose obsession with health food turned deadly:
But whatever the behavior is called, those who have lived through a disorder fueled by an obsession with healthful eating say that the experience can be agonizing. Kristie Rutzel, a 26-year-old marketing coordinator in Richmond, Va., began eliminating carbohydrates, meats, refined sugars and processed foods from her diet at 18. She became so fixated on eating only “pure” foods, she said, that she slashed her daily calorie intake to 500. Eventually, her weight fell to 68 pounds and she was repeatedly hospitalized for anorexia.
Today Ms. Rutzel, who said she is normal weight, often talks to young girls in schools and churches about the perils of becoming health-food obsessed.
When I think about childhood food, I have such lovely memories — hoagies, Whopper Juniors, Big Macs, Yankee Doodle cupcakes, you name it. I guess this is one disease I’ll never have to worry about.
liz | 11:24 AM | eating disorders
What fun is there in being a kid if you can’t eat crap once in a while??
I babysat this little boy who freaked out once when I poured him 2% milk. Apparently his mom only let him drink fat-free….
Don’t even let me get started on Main Line moms….
We live in such an obsessive society this isn’t surprising. Old wine in new skins.
Years ago (more than I’d like to admit, actually) I had a seriously weird, seriously thin roommate who cut one thing out after another. By the end there was almost nothing on her diet. Her rationale? “The spirits told me I should eat (insert almost any kind of food group here).” She announce a new off limits food group every week or so. She had really active spirit guides, I guess. Mine advised me to eat lots of pizza.
Correction: Her spirits told her what NOT to eat.
Du-uh. I just got back from a vacation last night. Apparently my proofreading spirits are still in Santa Fe.
Health(y) food and food allergies do have a meeting point on a scientific graph of good health-feeling good. I have an allergy to wheat. I can’t prove this alergy other than having severe stomach upset when I have something with whole wheat in it. I don’t eat things with wheat, my stomach feels good-I feel good. I am sure others notice similar effects ( of feeling good) when they try health foods, but then get confused-lost along the way to healthy eating. (the way away from fast foods)
hey, what’s up? been awhile. ran into an article and thought you may be interested in it.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/401885_filmmaker02.html
EdVS,
Really good story. Thanks.
S.
I’m glad you’re talking about this Liz, and I love your blog. My family are obsessed with health, and my Dad frowns at me when I reach for another cookie, or says that he’s “pigging out” when he has a second slice of pizza. It was just as harmful to grow up in this “healthy” environment than one with junk food.
The most important thing is to savour your food, not fear it or beat yourself up for indulging — this is far more important than whether you drink skim or homo. I’m happily recovered from an eating disorder
I do have to say that concern about pesticides is completely legitimate, not an irrational fear. But stressing to the point where you don’t eat anything contaminated is not healthy. We have to find the balance there ~
thanks!
Trish
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