“Trendy” Eating Disorders May Draw Unnecessary Attention
Eating disorders are made up of a spectrum of symptoms, with each case holding some similarity to others but unique in its qualities and causes. Even with so much variation, the DSM-IV recognizes only anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and eating disorder not otherwise specified as the official clinical diagnoses. It is expected that binge eating disorder will be added to the next edition of the DSM.
The media, however, often highlights popular trends in eating disorder exploration, a practice discouraged by Kenneth L. Weiner, M.D. in a Huffington Post article. Dr. Weiner cautions that even when certain patterns have been identified in the media, there remains careful consideration by experts to determine whether new trends qualify as true eating disorders.
One behavior highlighted in the media is orthorexia, a condition in which an individual obsesses over eating only healthy foods. The individual may cut out all fats or eat only vegetables in an effort to prevent any unhealthy substances from entering the body. Experts have not determined whether orthorexia qualifies as a unique eating disorder or if it may be a sub-set of another diagnosis.
Another trend observed by the media is pregorexia, in which women who are pregnant fall into dangerous eating practices in an effort to avoid weight gain. Again, though the media may portray pregorexia as a unique condition, it may be another expression of an already established eating disorder.
