Eating Healthy Is Now A Disorder?

[mouth]

Great quote from the article...


Being an adult picky eater can take an enormous social toll. Out of embarrassment, these folks avoid dining with friends or co-workers. Heather Hill tries to hide her eating habits from her children for fear that they will pick them up. Going to extremes in an effort to eat only healthy foods can also be socially isolating and can undermine personal relationships.

The article does talk about some extreme examples(which don't seem to be healthy) of picky eaters but, I've never really considered eating unprocessed foods an eating disorder. lol....and I still don't!
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/new-eating-disorders-are-they-real

[vanskelig]

My father is a picky eater. This does have an impact on his social life, and I grew up with the same tastes. I grew up and changed, he did not. Eating bodybuilder style means you would basically look like a moron with anyone other than bodybuilders, or alone, or you don't care but all the same this in itself would be a social stigma because you know, like it or not, others look at you differently .

[mouth]

I understand the point but, to imply you'll be a social outcast because you don't eat the same crap as everyone else, I feel, is a bit silly. I also think that kind of sends the wrong message.

[SylviaM]

We are different.We choose to lead this lifestyle.Would i change this.NEVER!

It's hard at times with social gatherings and all,but,i have choosen this path and I'm following it to the end.

[mouth]

Different...sure but would you consider it an eating disorder?

[#8]

Eating when Im not even hungry because I know I havnt had "enough" protein that day is definitely a disorder of some kind. Why eat if youre not hungry?

[JonnyO]

Unless your in contest prep there is no reason you shouldnt be able to eat out and it shouldnt affect your social life. If it does when not dieting then you have no life!!!

[SylviaM]

Different...sure but would you consider it an eating disorder?

ofcourse not!

[SylviaM]

I think people are misunderstanding the meaning of eating disorder

An Eating Disorder is much more than just being on a diet. An Eating Disorder is an illness that permeates all aspects of each sufferer's life, is caused by a variety of emotional factors and influences.

[vanskelig]

I think people are misunderstanding the meaning of eating disorder

An Eating Disorder is much more than just being on a diet. An Eating Disorder is an illness that permeates all aspects of each sufferer's life, is caused by a variety of emotional factors and influences.

Which is even crazier because, I think, most people get into the gym for external factors rather than personal motivation; girlfriend, team sport, lack of girlfriend, lack of personal health, low self esteem, etc.

I think the point made above was the case and point; why eat when you aren't hungry? that's a disorder and usually isn't a sign of well being, IMO, anyway.

[Canborn]

Being a healthy eater doesn't make you are a picky eater, it means you are making healthy food choices. There is a difference between picky and healthy eater though. I can dine out just about anywhere and be able to put together a healthy meal. Now if i was a picky eater this may not be the case, healthy food or not.

[monkey]

Per medical definitiion, eating like we do, bulk, diet etc qualifies as an eatiing disorder. Just because all uur frriends do it or uve been doing for ever does not rrationalize itm it still deviates ffrom the norm and displays a vaariety of abnormal tendencies _ when viewed in a medical context.

[SylviaM]

Which is even crazier because, I think, most people get into the gym for external factors rather than personal motivation; girlfriend, team sport, lack of girlfriend, lack of personal health, low self esteem, etc.

I think the point made above was the case and point; why eat when you aren't hungry? that's a disorder and usually isn't a sign of well being, IMO, anyway.

I believe in personal motivation.I do what i do,because i'm very passionate for this lifesytle.I push myself very hard in the weight room and pay close attention to my diet.Always more room for improvement.I guess,we all see it with different eyes.

[SylviaM]

But...When i see people working hard in the gym,i love it! i feel more motivated,makes my day :)

[ange_d]

From a link in the article...
" Some medical experts believe it's actually another form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, citing the fact that "less intense" forms of orthorexic behavior aren't dangerous. Where orthorexia is similar is in its obsessive nature. It is based on an obsessive fixation on food, just as with anorexia or bulimia. The difference is that orthorexia fixates on defining the "right" foods, foods that can be safely eaten. A person with orthorexia will spend just as much time and energy thinking about food as someone with bulimia or anorexia. They may not think about calories, but they think about the overall "health benefits"; how the food was processed, prepared, etc. Because of this, opinions have begun shifting in the last few years and orthorexia is now believed to be its own condition, separate from obsessive-compulsive or other eating disorders. "

If healthy eating or dieting always consumes so much time in your life that it distracts from other areas in your life; work, family, hobbies, hapiness, etc...then I have to agree it is a disorder.

[fathead]

i feel that following a bodybuilding type lifestyle/diet is in fact disordered eating. there are probably a small amount of people who follow the eating habits who arent "disordered" but i really think it comes down to the individual and the way it effects their life

i definitely fit into the mold. bodybuilding eating habits do have an effect on my life. regimented eating and restriction is not particularly normal or healthy and if you truly follow a bodybuilding type diet it will have an impact on the way you live your day to day life. there is a significant difference between making an effort to "eat clean" and following a regimented program. if you follow a plan 100% it WILL take a lot of time effort and energy that could be used to further other aspects of your life. im not saying its wrong or bad im just saying i do think it is somewhat disordered. i have struggled to find a happy medium but have yet to do so and will continue to strive to find that balance as i get older.

[ange_d]

i feel that following a bodybuilding type lifestyle/diet is in fact disordered eating. there are probably a small amount of people who follow the eating habits who arent "disordered" but i really think it comes down to the individual and the way it effects their life

i definitely fit into the mold. bodybuilding eating habits do have an effect on my life. regimented eating and restriction is not particularly normal or healthy and if you truly follow a bodybuilding type diet it will have an impact on the way you live your day to day life. there is a significant difference between making an effort to "eat clean" and following a regimented program. if you follow a plan 100% it WILL take a lot of time effort and energy that could be used to further other aspects of your life. im not saying its wrong or bad im just saying i do think it is somewhat disordered. i have struggled to find a happy medium but have yet to do so and will continue to strive to find that balance as i get older.

Well put.

[CallmeB]

Very interesting topic. I never thought of the way we eat as a disorder. But it does seem to fit the description.
.. I know when dieting i try to avoid many social situations where i know there is going to be food and drink just to avoid the temptation.
Balance is key.. and I think thats something we all need to work toward achieving.. I for one.. am NO WHERE CLOSE!

-B

[JonnyO]

I wouldnt classify what we do as an eating disorder because we are in full control of our eating habits/patterns. Some do it out of need because its whats required to do when prepping for a contest, or because we know its whats needed to lose that extra weight and get lean. I would say that the majority of us are stable physically and mentally and that takes out it being a disorder all together....so does that make it a disorder or dedicated?

[JifeLacket]

so does that make it a disorder or dedicated?

This makes me think... The diet is only a part of the puzzle required to succeed by any high level athlete, bber or otherwise. If it is necessary, is it a disorder? Being dedicated and not mentally ill are different.

[steve_d]

I would say that the majority of us are stable physically and mentally and that takes out it being a disorder all together....so does that make it a disorder or dedicated?

You must be joking, right? 9 times out of 10, competitors post show get out of control with their eating and get in a viscious cycle of depression, "post contest blues" etc. Is that normal? Post contest we should all be jumping for joy (which most do, but only for 2-3 days before feeling lost)...They need that control, and the control comes from competing...this is 100% analagous to anorexia, bulimia. The disorder is all about control, and they are controlling food.

I am not saying that we're messed up because we eat like we do to compete. But there are many competitors who only compete because they have the disorder. Is it normal to be up all night dreaming about food? How about setting up 1 day a week cheat days where you go all out and actually feel sick...yet the day before this eating frenzy, you can't stop thinking about it and comparing it to the night before xmas? How about people who get fat off-season (not on purpose) and compete as a reason to get back in shape? These are just some of the examples of typical competitors.

I will likely never be the best bodybuilder in canada, or in my own province, or city for that matter. And its probably because I don't take the obsession as far as others. But to be good at it might require being 'disorderly'. Which is fine...its for their sport, but it doesn't make it non-disorderly?

Is a runway model not anorexic because she doesn't eat BECAUSE she has to be skinny to be successful? She CHOOSES to be anorexic, and she is in control of it...but isnt that the definition of the disorder itself? Doesn't make it right or wrong...its just a disorder. I find it silly when people cant at least admit that what they do is disorderly.

[monkey]

I had a fairly lenghty discussion with a doc on this once... highly recognized individual when it comes to addictions, disorders, ADD and other similar aspects.
I brought up a significant amount of these arguments and he convinced me. Anorexic people think they are in control, in fact do most compulsions stemm from the need or desire to control aspects of your life.

Anyways, good or bad, who cares.. we are not discussing if it's good for you.
The main point is that no matter what your motive or reasons are, it meets the classification of a compulsive eating disorder. Other disorders have given this classification a bad stigma..

I have no problem saying that my eating habits strongly deviate from the norm and hence classify as a disorder! who says that the "norm" is right or desirable? (and let's face it, I doubt that any of you guys would eat the way you eat if your primary concern was health and not BB

[Canborn]

The word disorder seems to be tagged to just about everything nowadays.