My Son, Superhero In Training
For decades, weight has been treated as a primary indicator of health. In medical settings, schools, media, and wellness spaces, body weight, often summarized through BMI, is frequently used as a shorthand for wellbeing. This approach can feel straightforward, but it is deeply flawed. Weight is a single data point that tells us very little about a person’s physical health, mental health, or overall quality of life. For individuals with eating disorders or disordered eating, weight-centric models can be especially harmful.
Orthorexia often begins with a desire to feel better, have more energy, or “take care” of one’s body. Unlike other eating disorders, it is frequently praised, by friends, family, and even healthcare providers. This is one of the trickiest disordered eating patterns to notice because it can be so easily written off as a version of super health.
On January 11th, 2026, I became a first-time marathon finisher. Saying these words still feels surreal. So many moments leading up to the marathon felt like tests of my belief in myself. Why did I think I could do this? Why did I sign up? This last year was particularly difficult due to a couple of impactful medical conditions, and I wasn’t even sure it was safe for me to train at shorter distances, much less complete a full 26.2 miles.
