Spotting the Signs of Orthorexia

Today kicks off National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and so we thought it could be the perfect time to touch on a type of eating disorder on the rise amid today’s ever growing focus on “clean living.” It’s call orthorexia nervosa, defined as a “pathological obsession with proper nutrition,” and characterized by a restrictive diet and ritualized eating patterns. 

Unlike many other eating disorders, patients with orthorexia often flaunt their eating habits instead of hiding them, especially on Instagram, say experts. What’s more, the condition often overlaps with obsessive compulsive disorder and obsessive compulsive personality disorder.

While healthful eating is a crucial part of recovery, obsessing about what you eat can be a slippery slope. This is especially true if the underlying motivations for eating healthy include compulsion for complete control, escape from fears, improving self-esteem or searching for spirituality through food, notes the National Eating Disorders Association.  

Knowing the signs can help you or someone you love get help. Start by honestly answering these questions – and if you finding yourself feverishly nodding “yes,” be sure to reach out to a medical professional for help: 

• Do you ever wish that you could eat without obsessing about food quality?
• Do you ever wish you spent less time on food and more time living?
• Do you have difficulty eating a meal prepared by someone else? 
• Are you constantly looking to discover how certain foods are unhealthy for you? 
• Does following a perfect diet take precedence over love, joy, play and creativity?
• If you stray from your diet, do you experience feelings of guilt or self-loathing?
• Does sticking to the “correct” diet make you feel more in control of your life? 

Lasting Health and Sobriety
Sobriety requires a lifetime commitment, but we’re here to help. To learn more about Hope Academy support groups, transitional living options, aftercare programs, and sobriety-college living, call today: 866-930-4673.

The Facts About Eating Disorders and Addiction

It’s National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness) and so what better time to talk about eating disorders and their link to addiction. This is especially relevant since this year’s theme is “It’s Time to Talk About It,” and the organization is encouraging everyone struggling with food or exercise behaviors to start by taking its free, confidential online screening. 

Many people don’t realize that there's a significant overlap between eating disorders and drug addiction. In fact, food and body image struggles often surface after the substance abuse has ceased. 

Some more facts about eating disorders and addiction:

• Nearly 50% of individuals with an eating disorder (ED) are also abusing drugs and/or alcohol -- a rate fives times greater than the general population. 
• These co-occurring disorders affects both men and women, with up to 57% of males with binge eating disorder (BED) experiencing lifelong substance abuse problems. 
• Multiple shared neurotransmitters are thought to be involved in both eating and substance use disorders.
• Individuals with eating disorders also abuse prescription (steroids, insulin, thyroid medications and psychostimulants) and over-the-counter drugs (diet pills, laxatives, diuretics, weight loss supplements).
• Research suggests a strong genetic component to both. Other common risk factors: personality traits such as impulsivity; social pressures; family dynamics; environmental triggers; and emotional trauma. 
• Eating disorders and addiction frequently develop during stressful times in an effort to cope with emotions or to self-medicate underlying mental health issues.
• Both are chronic diseases with resistance to treatment and high relapse rates, requiring intensive, long-term therapy.
• A large body of research shows that for complete recovery, both disorders must be screened for and treated simultaneously.

Dual-Diagnosis Treatment for Young Adults

If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder and substance use disorder, we can help. As one of few CA addiction treatment centers equipped to treat dual-diagnosis patients, Hope Academy works with outside physicians and practitioners to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. To learn more, call 866-930-4673.

Eating Disorders and the Holidays

For those who have struggled with years of disordered eating, the holidays can be quite the challenge. With food front and center at almost every celebration, the thought of attending a family or social gathering can cause anxiety, stress, and even the impulse to return to former patterns of restriction, purging, or overeating.

Luckily, a little preparation can help you to make healthful choices and hopefully enjoy the season ahead. Start with these tips adopted from the National Eating Disorder Association:

1. Stick to a regular and moderate eating pattern. Avoid skipping meals to make up for what you recently ate or are about to eat.
2. Focus on the size of your heart, not your hips. Remind yourself that the holiday season is a time to reflect, enjoy loved ones, give back, and be grateful for the many blessings in your life.
3. Work with your healthcare team to develop a game plan. Together you can predict, prepare for, and make a plan to get through any uncomfortable situations or self-destructive behaviors.
4. Lean on your support network. Line up a few loved ones who will be able to provide extra support. And don’t hesitate to call if you’re struggling with negative thoughts, difficult emotions, or addictive behaviors.
5. Designate a loved one to be your “reality check.” He or she can help you fix a plate at a holiday gathering or provide objective feedback on the food portion sizes you make for yourself.
6. Take a holiday from self-imposed criticism and rigidity. Remind yourself that it’s okay to be a bit more flexible during the holidays when it comes to what and how much you eat.
7. Don’t overbook yourself. Cutting down on unnecessary events and obligations will help you avoid over-stressing or turning to eating-disordered behaviors or other unhelpful coping strategies. Leave time for relaxation, contemplation, reflection, spiritual renewal, simple service, and enjoying the small yet important things in life.

Seeking Support at Hope Academy

At Hope by the Sea’s Hope Academy program, we specialize in treating co-occurring eating disorders

and addiction. To learn more, call 866-930-4673.

What’s Drunkorexia?

A growing trend among college kids – both females and males alike – “drunkorexia” is a term used to describe the “weight conscious” behavior of drinkers who save calories (by skipping meals or over-exercising) during the day to compensate for the calories consumed later from alcohol.

There have been several studies documenting how common “drunkorexia” is on college campuses – and, in fact, statistics show that a whopping 30 percent of women, ages 18 to 23, admit to having skipped a meal to drink more. Individuals with eating disorders are up to five times as likely as those without eating disorders to abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

And it works the other way, too: Those who abuse alcohol or illicit drugs are up to 11 times as likely as those who don’t to have eating disorders.  

Risks of Disordered Eating and Binge Drinking

Although drunkorexia is not an official eating disorder, habitually drinking on an empty stomach can have serious health consequences – and that’s in addition to the dangers of binge drinking in the first place. These include:

• Malnutrition
• Short- and long-term cognitive problems, including difficulty concentrating, studying, and making decisions
• Serious eating disorders
• Violence
• Risky sexual behavior
• Alcohol poisoning
• Substance abuse
• Damage to vital organs
• Chronic diseases

Dual Diagnosis: Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse
As addiction worsens, so does the co-occurring condition—and vice versa. Because of this, both diseases must be treated simultaneously to achieve the best results. To learn more about Hope Academy’s treatment programs for dual diagnosis patients, call today: 866-930-4673.