• Do you feel guilt, shame, or anxiety when you stray from your diet?
• Do you feel “in control” when you stick to the “correct” diet?
• Are you constantly looking for ways foods are unhealthy for you?
• Do you rigidly avoid certain foods? For example, those made with: artificial
colors, flavours or preservatives; pesticides or genetic modification; fat, sugar
or salt; animal or dairy products; other “unhealthy” ingredients
• Do you get feelings of satisfaction, esteem, or spiritual fulfillment from eating
“healthy”?
• Do you find yourself thinking critical thoughts of those who do not follow strict
diets?
• Do you regularly spend time planning the next day’s meals in advance?
• Do you obsessively count calories, grams of carbs/fat/sugar/sodium?
• Do you have an obsessive concern over the relationship between food choices
and health concerns such as asthma, digestive problems, low mood, anxiety
or allergies?
• Do you avoid eating food bought or prepared by others?
• Do you find you distance yourself from family and friends who do not share
similar views of foods?
• Do you ever wish you could spend less time on food and more time living and
loving?
• Do love, joy, play and creativity take a back seat to following the perfect diet?
The above are possible signs of an eating disorder called Orthorexia Nervosa.
What is Orthorexia?
Orthorexia Nervosa refers to an obsession with eating “proper” foods. The term “orthorexia” was coined by Steven Bratman, MD, and literally means “fixation on righteous eating”. While it is not yet an officially recognized disorder in the DSM-V, orthorexia is similar to other eating disorders – those with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa obsess about calories and weight, while orthorexics obsess about healthy eating (not about being “thin”). Health experts believe that orthorexia is becoming increasingly more common in recent years, perpetuated by the profusion of foods marketed as healthy and organic, and by the media’s often conflicting dietary advice (Marcason, 2013).
What are the consequences of Orthorexia?
Orthorexia starts out as an innocent attempt to eat more healthfully, but orthorexics become fixated on food quality and purity. Orthorexics become consumed with what and how much to eat. Any “slip ups” by straying from the rigid diet are typically followed by shame, resolve to “be better”, and self-punishment through fasting, compulsive exercise, stricter dieting, self-induced vomiting, etc. Sometimes food choices become so restrictive that an individual’s health and even life become in danger. Health consequences of orthorexia may include malnourishment, osteoporosis, and heart failure. The obsession with healthy eating can also do damage to other aspects of an orthorexic’s life. Orthorexics may be socially isolated, often because they plan their life around food. The disease impairs relationships and career, and crowding out other activities and interests (Kratina, n.d.).
What is the treatment for Orthorexia?
Eating disorders are complex, multidimensional and serious illnesses. If not treated in their early stages, eating disorders can become chronic, debilitating, and even life-threatening conditions. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Thus, eating disorders such as orthorexia require specialized treatment with a professional who understands their complexity. Treatment must address symptoms, behaviours, and underlying psychological and emotional issues.
If you are concerned about your eating behaviours or that of someone you care about, please contact Megan Fearnley, M.Sc., OACCPP at 416-899-0721 or info@meganfearnleypsychotherapist.ca
References
Kratina, K. (n.d.). “Orthorexia nervosa”. Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/orthorexia-nervosa
Marcason, W. (2013). “Orthorexia: An obsession with eating ‘pure’”. Retrieved from http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442471029
