Since 1997, when the term orthorexia was introduced, mental health professionals weren’t sure whether to classify it as a disordered eating pattern, its own disorder or as a sub-type of other disorders like avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID); an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS); or as a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
However, interest in extreme diets is trending according to Google Trends. Since 2004 — the first year of statistics available — the term “vegan” has increased in popularity by 4.33 times, or 333 percent. Extreme dieting increases a person’s likelihood of developing an eating disorder by 18 times. With the increasing popularity of extreme dieting comes the corresponding increase in eating disorders. With food sensitivities also on the rise, more and more people are concerned with eating healthy “safe” foods.
As of 2015 and 2016, 40 percent of Americans are considered obese and many more are overweight. The obesity epidemic contributes to more people dieting in general.
Orthorexia, which is obsession with healthful eating, has not been studied enough to generate prevalence statistics among the general population and on campuses; however, all trends point up.
College students are at increased risk for developing eating disorders, for several reasons. Aside from genetics, the three main factors in developing eating disorders are a person’s environment, emotional health and feeling pressured by peers, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Especially for 18 to 21-year olds, junior college or university can be a difficult transition. However, stress rates for college students — regardless of age — are high.
It is estimated that between eight and 17 percent of college students have an eating disorder. Twenty-five percent have a diagnosable mental illness, and 40 percent of those who need it do not seek help. Eighty percent of surveyed students reported feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities and 50 percent become so anxious that they struggle in school.
College is the perfect petri dish for growing mental illnesses. As it turns out, orthorexia is a co-occurring pathology that usually presents with depression or anxiety.
Women are particularly likely to express body dissatisfaction, to overestimate body fatness and ultimately, twice as likely to diet. Some studies have also shown that men are less likely to follow diets, even when they are medically prescribed.
Women are at increased risk for eating disorders at a 4-to-1 ratio. However, when it comes to orthorexia specifically, preliminary studies show male prevalence or no gender disparity.
Because people with orthorexia seem normal, or even more knowledgeable than the everyday eater, it’s sometimes hard to identify them. Their actions may be normal, but it’s the mental component — the inner talk and thinking patterns — that make the issue.
Compulsion to eat “clean,” a term which means something different to each sufferer, controls his or her thoughts for hours of the day.
The most noticeable symptom is the social isolation that results from following restrictive diets. Someone with orthorexia will do things like bring their own food to an event, eat before the event, leave before food is served or simply not attend. Even though he or she may realize it would be difficult for others to accommodate, it’s just too hard to actually “compromise” their food intake.
Similar to anorexia, people with orthorexia like to feel in control. Anorexics worry about the quantity of food intake whereas orthorexics worry about the quality of their food.
Orthorexia is a concern for college students because it affects their budgets, for one. The GMO-free and organic food movements have further fogged up the meaning of healthy eating, confusing more people into needlessly paying more for and worrying more about their food. The cost of “clean” food can be quite high.
Orthorexia worsens with social media usage. In an age when “snackable content” such as memes and infographics are a primary communication method, much is lost in translation.
Social media platforms are known to reinforce a person’s already-held beliefs through content-relevance algorithms which pitch people all their favorite truths and fallacies. These algorithms create “epistemic bubbles” in which information is laundered and expert opinion is valued the same or less than an average Joe’s anecdote.
Orthorexia is far-reaching because it affects a person’s feeling of normalcy and extremity. To someone with orthorexia, they are normal, and everyone else is crazy or ignorant. It’s its own little terrifying wonderland, under the guise of a healthy daydream.
If you think you might have a disordered eating pattern, an eating disorder, depression or another mental illness, get help. Salt Lake Community College offers low-cost counseling to students and faculty at three campuses: Jordan (801-957-6211), Redwood (801-957-4268), and South City (801-957-3323); call to make an appointment.
The National Alliance on Mental Health will be hold their state conference Oct. 24 at the Miller Campus. Student registration is $35, or if you can’t afford that, fill out the scholarship application by Oct. 1.
To learn more about orthorexia, visit Eating Disorder Hope.