Welcome

I have to admit, when I was first introduced to the concept of orthorexia, a condition characterized by an obsession with healthy eating and food quality, I thought, I definitely know some people who have this. From my mom who has rotated between every kind of alternative milk known to man (she’s currently on flax milk), to my vegan friend who gives me a 30-minute rant on chard at least twice a week, health-conscious individuals who seem to fit the characteristics of this disease are everywhere. Point being: many people in this day and age are extremely conscious of what they put in their bodies, but as I quickly learned, it takes much more than a strong interest in healthy eating to classify someone as having orthorexia. So what is the difference between people with healthy habits and people who cross over into orthorexia?

Kelsey Thomas, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at our Seattle outpatient location, earned an outstanding preceptor award from the University of Washington for her work educating and supervising dietetic interns. 

“To be selected for this award shows the success of my intern!” said Kelsey. “Teaching is one of my passions and I’m so proud I get the opportunity to be a preceptor so I can pass along the gift of my expertise and knowledge like my preceptors did when I was an intern.”

It takes a multidisciplinary team to treat eating disorders, and each member plays a vital role in getting clients on the road to recovery. That is why we’re highlighting the various roles within our care team in this blog series.

Dr. Mary Bretzman is one such team member. She serves as The Emily Program’s family physician in our Intensive Day Treatment program and residential program in St. Paul, MN, the Anna Westin House.

Personality traits are often studied in reference to eating disorders in an attempt to better understand the illness and its causes. Two traits that have received a great deal of attention in people with anorexia are impulsivity and compulsivity.

Dee joined The Emily Program team at the opening of the Spokane location in the summer of 2013. She was thrilled to see this type of eating disorder treatment resource right in her town. She spent more than 15 years in private practice specializing in eating disorders but longed to work for a treatment center.

People often think “Eating disorders are a woman’s disease.” This myth is constantly reinforced by character portrayals on television, targeted advertisements, and even studies and articles that draw from exclusively female samples. The sad reality is that eating disorders affect any and all genders, and those who do not identify as female may even suffer more with the very diagnosis of their disease due to the stereotype that eating disorders are feminine. Therefore, although eating disorders affect each individual differently, it is important to consider one’s gender identification in order to increase efficacy for prevention, detection, and treatment of the disease.

One of the many complexities of treating eating disorders is the multiple biases that we must confront. Some are obvious and some are hidden, but in either case, the bias makes it difficult for some people to access treatment or fully benefit from it.

We recently asked people in recovery from an eating disorder to share their thoughts about the illness. We hope these insights from those who have “been there” help if you’re seeking answers and understanding. A big thanks to everyone who contributed to this post and to all the supportive friends and family out there.

These are personal perspectives; everyone will have unique experiences on their own path to recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors, or symptom use. Please use your own discretion. And speak with your therapist when needed.