Newsflash: A New Eating Disorder?

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In the past few decades, more and more attention has been given to those patients suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia, two commonly known eating disorders provoked by fear of being overweight. Both are commonly associated with teenage girls and women, as they are more likely than their male counterparts to engage in these behaviors to lose weight, including but not limited to: restricting food intake and dieting, excessive exercising, and purging. However, according to Time Magazine’s article “Can Healthy Eating Be a Disorder?” eating disorder experts believe they are beginning to encounter a slightly new population, one suffering from what they refer to as “orthorexia.” As with other eating disorders, women appear to be more prone to orthorexia than males, likely because of the inherently patriarchal structure of society and ever-increasing pressure to fit male-defined norms of what is attractive.

To illustrate the presentation of the disorder, Time Magazine contributor Bonnie Rochman describes the case of Kristie Rutzel, who, upon learning about food pyramids and healthy eating, “stopped ingesting anything processed, then restricted herself to whole foods and eventually to 100% organic.” This obsession with avoiding any foods deemed “unhealthy” by medical professionals is the hallmark feature of orthorexia. The list of forbidden foods is nearly endless as transsaturated fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives are all prohibited. With such dietary limitations, severe health issues can result, including anemia and osteopenia, among many others. Some psychiatrists and doctors argue that orthorexia still classifies as anorexia, but lobbyists are fighting to have orthorexia entered into the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) that is used by mental-health professionals to identify and consult on disorders. However, the first draft of the DSM-V was released on February 10, and orthorexia was not included. Without recognition in the DSM, it will be hard for researchers to receive grant money in order to learn more about the disorder that is likely plaguing many women. It will also be hard for patients thought to have orthorexia (but not another eating disorder) to get insurance and proper medical care.

Feminist and author Joan Jacobs Brumberg would likely see the advent of orthorexia as yet another example of the “body projects” that girls and women commonly undertake. These projects are modifications aimed at controlling or enhancing the body in order to fit societal norms and can include simple transformations through undergarments, clothing, and hairstyles, or more severe and permanent transformations through plastic surgery, piercings, or tattoos. Some argue that these body projects themselves are not problematic: many women gain self-confidence and pleasure from a new dress, freshly shaven legs, or a nice tan. However, these “projects” too often become excessive and all-consuming, as is the case with orthorexia and other eating disorders. Both mental health and physical health are at risk. Rutzel is the perfect example of a body project taken too far. We have all been taught the importance and benefits of eating healthy, but eating a raw foods diet consisting of little besides uncooked broccoli and cauliflower, Rutzel became severely underweight at 5 feet 4 inches and only 68 pounds.

What explains this dangerous obsession with being thin? Why is it so much more prevalent in women than in men? In one word: patriarchy. Patriarchy is an ideology that has deeply permeated and structured our culture for practically all of history; it is a set of beliefs, symbols, and ideas about men and women that defines or regulates their behavior. Allan G. Johnson explains that “patriarchal culture includes ideas about the nature of things, including women, men, and humanity, with manhood and masculinity most closely associated with being human and womanhood and femininity relegated to the marginal position of other” (Johnson 36-7). Patriarchy thus gives men the power to puts demands on women and force them to fit into a narrow definition of what it means to be feminine. Modern femininity, according to Brumberg, “require[s] some degree of exhibitionism, or at least, a willingness to display oneself of a decorative object” (107). Conforming to these ideals and achieving various body projects are thus one way of fitting into these definitions and putting oneself on display for men to see, ogle, and enjoy.

Brumberg also writes, “today, many young girls worry about the contours of their bodies—especially shape, size and muscle tone-- because they believe that the body is the ultimate expression of self” (97). External appearance is the first impression a person makes; it is the first basis for judgment. Living in a male-dominated world, girls and women feel the pressure to live up to the strict definitions of what is attractive. According to the media and the way we are all socialized, men want women who are thin; thin is the key to success, whether it is defined as being beautiful or finding a husband.

Debates arise, however, because women undeniably gain a sense of satisfaction from being thin. If women gain self-confidence from achieving body projects and if body projects instill a sense of pride and happiness, why are they so harmful? The answer is partly about motivation. If women are truly choosing to take part in these body projects (dieting and others), it is their prerogative. However, is their motivation truly stemming purely from themselves, or it is due to the influence of patriarchy? It is hard to separate what is a choice freely made from one that is made under the influence of society. Women have been socialized into accepting these ideals; it is hard to undo or ignore these externally imposed pressures.

Full blown eating disorders, though, whether it be orthorexia, anorexia, or bulimia, generally do not encounter substantial resistance: it is hard to look at someone who is 5 foot 4 inches and 68 pounds and conclude that they are healthy. This question is limited to less extreme versions of body projects. Is healthy eating, the foundation of orthorexia, bad? It sounds absurd to say it is. Is going to the gym bad? In moderation, it certainly is not. Is a diet necessarily bad? Again, if it’s well-controlled and temporary, it is not unduly harmful. Many women who are not diagnosed with eating disorders, though, still suffer from these preoccupations, so where do we draw the line? According to Alisa Valdes, studies show that 75% of adult women in the United States believe they are too fat, even though only a third of those women (25% of all women) actually are (Findlen 26). These statistics clearly show that these images perpetuated by our patriarchal society are damaging to the majority of women, even if only a fraction of those women eventually become diagnosed with a disorder like orthorexia.

This is precisely why a disorder like orthorexia deserves our attention and recognition: it is a symptom of the culture at large. We have distorted something healthy (a balanced and nutritional diet) to such an extreme level that it can now be considered a medical condition.