Hashtag #foodstagram: The perils of ‘foodstagraming’

Snapping photos of meals before eating them is now the fad, especially when Instagram came into the social media scene. I admit that being a fitness advocate forces me to be a little bit annoyed with my friends who are more concerned with telling the world about the food they’re about to put in their mouth than knowing its health benefits.

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But hear me out: my annoyance toward this trend is supported by expert opinion. According to a study, obsessively documenting one’s meal beckons a dieting problem. Those who snap a photo of their food and upload them to Instagram before they eat lack a key element in social interaction. These people are the types who are more concerned about telling the imaginary, virtual world about their food instead of socializing personally with people.

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Furthermore, for TV host Dr. Oz, what he calls “food porn”—not only “foodstagramming,” but also food photography at large—is just making the society fatter. It also destroys one’s diet, as pictures of food entices one to trade what’s in front of him with what he saw online. This only shows that over-publicizing a meal is nothing different from intruding and changing one’s lifestyle and diet.

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Honestly, I really don’t mind people “foodstagramming” before eating, so long as it is not over-done, and it does not interfere with other people’s lives, say if they’re eating in a restaurant. Seriously, folks. There are more important things in life than just taking pictures of your food.

David Wayne Fish is glad not to have an Instagram account. But you can catch him on Twitter.

Orthorexia: When “perfect diet” becomes an obsession

A message from a blog follower goes:

“Dear David Wayne Fish, I want to be as healthy as I can be. Aside from exercising daily, I also make sure that I only eat healthy foods. But when I heard about this thing called “orthorexia” on TV, I was baffled. How do I know if I am suffering from it? ~ Miss Fussy.” 

I have an appointment with fellow San Diego fitness coaches later, but I can’t help answering Miss Fussy’s question through this blog post with some sense of urgency. Lately, there have been discussions in the media about orthorexia, which have caused confusion to many. It’s vital that people get factual information on the subject.

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The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics defines orthorexia as “an unhealthy fixation on eating only healthy or ‘pure’ foods.” People who suffer from this disorder are driven by the obsessive desire to follow a healthy diet to the point that they severely restrict themselves from many types of nourishment.

Typically, orthorexics start by avoiding processed foods and eating only certified organic goods. Later on, they eliminate entire groups of food until they achieve the “perfect diet.”  Unfortunately, nutrients may be eliminated from the diet and orthorexics end up being malnourished.

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Orthorexia can also lead to social isolation. Orthorexics get extremely anxious around a shared meal where “unhealthy foods” are served. They may not also enjoy their food like normal people do. While consuming a healthy diet make them feel virtuous, bad food gives them a sense of guilt.

I personally think that orthorexia is a disorder that develops as a twisted response to the eating disorders of the recent years—anorexia nervosa and bulimia. It is ironic how the desire to eat healthy has, once again, driven many to madness. But since it is a new disorder, it may be put to a halt before it starts killing people. I advise those who think they are suffering from orthorexia to see a therapist before the disorder worsens.

That includes you, Miss Fussy.  

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