What is Orthorexia?
The term ‘orthorexia’ was coined in 1998 and means an obsession with proper or ‘healthful’ eating. Although being aware of and concerned with the nutritional quality of the food you eat isn’t a problem in and of itself, people with orthorexia become so fixated on so-called ‘healthy eating’ that they actually damage their own well-being.
People who suffer with orthorexia become so focused on eating “healthy” or eating “clean” that they may begin to negatively impact their own health through nutritional deficits. This focus on food can negatively impact relationships, work functioning, social functioning, and mental health. Studies have shown that many individuals with orthorexia also have obsessive-compulsive disorder.
WARNING SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF ORTHOREXIA
Compulsive checking of ingredient lists and nutritional labels
An increase in concern about the health of ingredients
Cutting out an increasing number of food groups (all sugar, all carbs, all dairy, all meat, all animal products)
An inability to eat anything but a narrow group of foods that are deemed ‘healthy’ or ‘pure’
Unusual interest in the health of what others are eating
Spending hours per day thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events
Showing high levels of distress when ‘safe’ or ‘healthy’ foods aren’t available
Obsessive following of food and ‘healthy lifestyle’ blogs on Twitter and Instagram
Body image concerns may or may not be present
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF ORTHOREXIA
Like anorexia, orthorexia involves restriction of the amount and variety of foods eaten, making malnutrition likely. Therefore, the two disorders share many of the same physical consequences.
If you feel you’re struggling with Orthorexia or have recently been diagnosed, schedule a call with one of our dietitians here.