The Ever-Evolving Realm of Eating Disorders
There are a multitude of eating disorders that are clinically defined, as well as, ever evolving. It is important we don’t get stagnant in our understanding of eating disorders. For instance, the DSM stamped their official definition of Anorexia Nervosa, which clinically included the absence of a menstrual period. This was later seen as asinine, later on, as males with anorexia would never have this clinical symptom.
It is important we remain open to the idea that the foundation of mental health SHOULD be ever evolving, or we will be of no use to those who truly need our help. Different disorders involving food emerge so often, we need to keep flexible with our definitions of even the foundation of mental health. The following are eating disorders not yet clinically defined.
1. Orthorexia
Orthorexia: This relatively new evolution in eating disorders is characterized by an obsession with clean eating. and the absence of moderation. Only the healthiest of foods can be ingested, and the rules become strict as the person struggling with orthorexia decides a food is no longer healthy.
The information can be gained from the person cyclically thinking about the idea of a food, reading different articles on the internet, or hearing something from another person. The information does not have to have any basis in reality, research, or scientific backing to be religiously adopted. Akin to Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder, there is a terrific fear of consuming the wrong foods, whether it be fat, nitrites, sodium, etc.
The rules also can evolve or change as the fear increases toward any one nutrient. This is not clinically studied as of yet due to the nature of many different diets, ways of eating, and beliefs about the correct way to eat for ultimate health, in addition to the multitude of grocery stores and food options that claim different health benefits for different ailments. It begs the question, is it healthy, or a disorder.
2. Drunkorexia
Drunkorexia: an almost slang term coined from term coined from the propensity to restrict all day just to drink alcohol at the end of the day. Many with this condition claim they are saving their calories for alcohol. The idea behind this is an intense fear of weight gain mixed with the need to numb with the use and/or abuse of alcohol.
Do they struggle with alcoholism? It’s hard to tell as the use of alcohol is the the only consumption some days. This means calorically this is their main source of sustenance, as nutrient poor as it may be, for the day. Traditional treatment uses alcohol rehabilitation first, which seems backward, as this is the last piece of the issue.
The primary issue with “drunkorexia” truly lies with the REASON the person is restricting food in the first place, THEN the idea of adding food throughout the day, and THEN the idea of alcohol consumption.
3. Pregorexia
Pregorexia: the restriction of food as one goes through the cycle of pregnancy. The fear of gaining weight becomes terrifying as it is inevitable through this period. The disorder becomes difficult, and is usually treated with guilt about not feeding the unborn child properly as abuse.
This lends itself mostly to more restricting, as the woman struggling ALREADY feels guilty about this issue, and OBVIOUSLY is aware of it, which providers seem oblivious to as they attempt to educate her on what she could clinically be an expert on.
The focus in treatment should start with the issue of the woman feeling worthy BEYOND her pregnancy, and the idea that the pregnancy can be felt either in celebration, fear, depression, or any combination of feelings, as she is treated as a whole person without this unborn baby.
In conclusion, there is so much work to be done on the methods we treat eating disorders, however the focus on the individual FIRST is almost ALWAYS more effective than treating the symptoms these people have as a result of their underlying issues.