Agreed. EDs manifest in different ways but often lead to the same symptoms. I'm an underweight male with AN and, whilst my diet is restricted significantly by the ED, I allow lots of "unhealthy" things within the "control" and restrictions of the ED. I know to solve it I need to live by free and unrestricted eating. That is terrifying - but I am working to overcome that fear. Thanks for your continued content Tabitha - your guidance and advice is assertive. And that is exactly how it needs to be delivered and heard.
I have anorexia and orthorexia and less than 34kg because if it. Repeatedly told not to eat all the fats that i had cravings for sugars i started chewing and spitting and eat about 300 cals a day. Im scared to eat even that now. I had no body fat and am now the size of a 7 year old.
Big Yes. The problem is that professionals glorify and even recommend Orthorexic behaviors just because they are about "healthy eating/lifestyle" - and just because they don't lead to weight loss or just because those who practice these behaviors are not "underweight". In fact, they "Intentionally or unintentionally" feed, encourage, and support a serious illness. Orthorexia is a restrictive eating behavior. I can say that all of us start with Orthorexia before heading to Anorexia. Anorexia is the expected fallout of Orthorexia. For me - Orthorexia was the paved rosy road that leads to Anorexia - it's the door to Anorexia. Give a room in your mind to Orthorexia and Anorexia will build a compound.
