You know what, I really have a lot more to say about the difference between anorexia and orthorexia but right now I am not in a stable mindset to do so. I will tell you that I plan to return to this comment when I am able to ground myself to give you a better answer not a half assed one. I’m sorry. I must block comments right now to protect my mental health since I have allowed my frusteration over a comment exchange in this post - (NOT OURS) to dominate this part of my day. I need to let it go

Raw foodism does not equal orthorexia. Anyone can be orthorexic. I haven’t seen the show yet but I read the ABC article and was seriously annoyed. I have been accused of being orthorexic just because I am a raw vegan. I used to be an obsessive compulsive eater. Raw food has made me healthy, happy, balanced and well nourished. Sure, some orthorexic people can be raw foodists, but for ABC to make raw veganism the culprit is seriously ignorant. I am off to watch the show now.

I consume a lot of superfoods that are powerhouses of nutrients, far better than pills and shelf bought stuff. The only pills I take are the potassium, calcium and vitamin D, everything else is done through my raw food diet. End of story, this is no longer up for discussion. It’s my business and I must draw the line somewhere and this is where I do it. It’s pathetic of me to even have to defend myself here. Your intentions are good but your approach is offensive and uneducated on my story/health

result from a lifelong history of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa being my primary. My raw food diet has helped me in so many ways and is helping me gain weight and acheive nutritional BALANCE. I eat a wide variety of foods and get adequate intakes of nutrients. I have a background in nutrition and also work with medical professionals. You have no place to tell me how to run my recovery or how things should be. Please focus on yourself, it seems like you are putting too much focus on me.

Listen. I am making changes. Your comments are becoming abusive and I’m not going to tolerate this. You don’t know me, stop judging me, focus on your own plate. Don’t tell me I’m not getting enough vitamins. I GET REGULAR BLOODWORK done with a doctor I SEE for eating disorders and I AM NOT DEFECIENT in ANY vitamins and minerals except potassium due to chronic hypokalemia. I take calcium and vitamin d for SEVERE osteoporosis. You don’t know half the medical crap I have to deal with as a

Later, there was a period where I (sort of) thought I’d recovered but I also knew that I was still really locked in a death grip of food rules surrounding nutritional values, food sources and purity, etc. What I’d managed to do was increase my food volume (and my weight as a consequence) but my mindset wasn’t one bit less rigid, “virtue”-oriented or restrictive than when I was eating a smaller volume. Anyway, it’s all interesting to me. Thk you!

For sure; I’ve seen all of your vids (many of them more than once). I once tried to explain to a doctor why I couldn’t eat the low-cal foods he suggested I ween myself onto (I have a laundry list of food “quality” issues/restrictions) and how confused and inarticulate I found myself re: the intersection of my concern about calories/wt. gain *and* the quality and purity of foods. He said I wasn’t confused but stubborn (which is generally true LOL) but in this case I was actually confused.

that I fight daily. It was a struggle to even eat anything while under the influence of anorexia… The difference is the way one focuses on food and oneself. Anorexi “this will make me gain weight, I will restrict” Orthorexia “This will clog my colon and kill me, it’s toxic trash, therefore I restrict” The 2 can match in a restriction mode but the intentions are very much different. Have you seen all 3 of my orthorexia vids? I appreciate your willingness to warn. Ps tell the wife I said hi!!!

I can speak for myself, through anorexia I cared less about the quality of food but the caloric/fat/etc intake. I could eat a 60cal can of tuna fish and not think twice about it. I would drink diet soda and not think twice about it except that it had no cals and it was safe. In orthorexia, I wouldn’t touch that “shit” with a ten foot poll. It would panic at the mere thought. In bulimia, it could down a whole store for and not think twice. It’s confusing, contridicting and hell to live with 3 eds

i agree with you. it’s very frustrating to see the general public mentality toward eating disorders of all kinds. i myself suffer from eds, and i told my mom about orthorexia and she laughed calling it a joke, something someone made up, AND SHE’S A NURSE. it’s something i have to battle with every day i live in my house, and its inescapable. thank you for posting this and expressing your feelings about this. it was a very brave thing to do the interview and your vlogs so honustly. <3

i saw the videos, i don’t have an ed, i do have ed tendencies but i have other addictions.

i can understand how foodies would not like how some things were portrayed, but to the average person who just eats their food i think it showed how the ed had control and the powerlessness associated with orthorexia.

but, i think no one can understand what it’s like unless you’ve suffered for a few years, minute by minute.

(BTW, my wife caught the programme with me. She thinks you have “character.” She’s a big fan of people with character. I might have to watch out, lest she develop a crush ).

…towards comorbidity? Do you think the difference centers on thoughts? Behaviours? Both? I caught the programme and I’ve done the research and reading (including the excellent essays on your site) but if you’re up to elaborating some more on any of these questions, I’m here to learn. (I don’t ask for much, hunh?) On a personal note, I’m beginning to wonder if ‘orthorexia’ isn’t a word I might be able to put to a level of my thoughts and behaviours that I’ve never had a word for before now.

I’ve a few questions I’ve been kicking around for a while. First, I should say I find it quite plausible that orthorexia is a distinct disorder. In my experience, I and many others with anorexia (and/or bulimia, BED, etc.) have extremely rigid ideas and behaviours surrounding “virtuous/vicious” “good/bad” “healthy/deadly” foods. One of my questions is: how do you think the anorexic (for e.g.) with these ideas might be distinguished from the orthorexic? Do you think there might be a tendency…

to achieve.

I have read through your and Johnny’s discussion on the boards and am shocked at your lack of knowledge on this subject! Also, I don’t think you or anyone else should be giving “medical” advice through this site. Besides, a person who is as underweight as Johnny can’t just choose to eat a normal meal… eating large (normal) amounts of food could kill him faster than eating so little. Also, Johnny has said he wants to change and is being proactive in accomplishing his goal. Its not your goal

I have a long ways to go in recovery and I am in it to win it but it’s a lifelong commitment. After facing death I decided I wanted to live and have been fighting for my life since. It’s not easy, I’m sure you know. ONE DAY AT A TIME. I congratulate you on your hardwork and success in recovery. Thank you for sharing. God Bless.

No, it boils down to deep rooted issues. Control is a surface aspect not the root of the problem. I have been in recovery for 12 1/2 years with ups and DOWNS. I am fighting. I find it very rude to make it sound as if I’m just sitting here farting the yanky doodle dandy doing NOTHING. I’m fighting and that is all there is to it. This thread is getting unhealthy for me. Let’s please respect one another whether we agree or not. I took the first step a long time ago and am still fighting. Thank you

you say it’s all these ED’s but it all boils down to controling food one way or the other. take all of that neg. energy and make it positive by forgiving yourself and allowing yourself to sustain life with the proper nutrition that you deserve. you say i don’t understand, i know EXACTLY where you’re coming from. the first step is saying you want to change and then following through with that decision day after day until you find yourself on a much healthier path with much less anxiety.

you are right that you can suppliment vitamins and protein from other foods, but you aren’t. that’s the problem. you’re not handling this the right way. and it can be done overnight-choose to change-then allow it to happen and forgive yourself in the process. is it going to be easy, no. but you’ll be alive and healthy and happier than you are now by allowing food to run your life.

Well I am glad you are one of the few who feels this way. On the flip note, many disagree and have blowm this all out of hell and back.

can’t tolerate DAIRY, they must cut that out. Some can’t tolerate meat, they cut that out. Things can be replaced. People do it all the time and are FINE. We need NUTRIENTS that can come from VARIOUS food groups. You don’t have to eat all food groups to get those nutrients! I am not hear to argue. I dont know you and you clearly dont know me but I can tell you that I wish you well also. Getting healthy is something I am working on and will NOT BE DONE OVERNIGHT. Thanks for your understanding.

Listen, I am trying here. I am in recovery and doing what I can do. Don’t belittle a situation you don’t know the full facts about, that is what I am saying. I’mn not knocking your own story. I wish you the best as well. I understand your intentions are good. It’s also not just so EASY to just get better. I life live one moment at a time dear. I HAVE THREE EATING DISORDERS which is clear if you took the time to read up on me, it’s all over my profile… Cutting out food groups, some people

I think they did portray the fact that it was irrational - well that’s how it came across to me. I came away from it understanding how out of control the fears can get, and that it wasn’t just the raw food diet that was the problem.

So you have two diseases? And you don’t know my background to comment on what I do or don’t understand. I belive you missed the point of my comment. If you want to get healthy, then do it. Don’t let this thing control you. Rise above it as anyone does with an obsession or control issue. People who cut out any food group-to include fat-are not fine, they *can* develop ED and do become sick b/c their bodies can’t stay healthy due to lack of nutrition and vitamins. Don’t apologize, just get healthy