The final eating disorder we are discussing may sound as though it is a good thing, but it can definitely be taken too far. Food is fuel for our bodies and eating the right foods is important for living a healthy life. Eating whole and unprocessed food is the best way to stay healthy, but it does not mean eliminating treats is necessary. The occasional treat is the best way to maintain a healthy diet and not stray too far. Some people understand healthy eating is important and become obsessed with this.
What is Orthorexia?
Orthorexia means an obsession with proper or healthful eating. While it is not formally recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), awareness has been on the rise and it is something that should be treated. It is important to be aware of the nutritional quality of food, but it can become a problem when someone becomes so fixated on it that they damage their own well-being and experience health consequences due to this. People with orthorexia will have eating habits that reject a variety of foods for not being “pure” enough. They begin to avoid whole meals because they do not meet their standards. The term was coined by a doctor in California in 1996. While it is a relatively new term and concept, it is important to look for.
What to Look For
Orthorexia is similar to other eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia, as they are about control around food. An intense concern about food quality causing anxiety can be a symptom. Not going out to eat or avoiding food prepared by other people can be another symptom. Those with orthorexia can have an intense fear of sickness, worrying about how clean or bad certain foods are. Food research can take up hours of someone’s day if they are obsessing over the health of different foods and refusing to eat a broad range of food, such as anything with preservatives, grains, or simply all foods that don’t seem healthy. People may have a fear of losing control, that by eating one meal prepared by someone else can be disastrous. Orthorexia can cause people to be overly critical of their friends’ choices while having no rational explanation for their own. Finally, people with this may find themselves in a vicious circle, where their preoccupation with food causes a bounce between self-love and guilt as their diet is changed and restricted. While it is good to look for healthy foods and eat those most of the time, this type of obsession is dangerous.
Risk Factors and Possible Causes
Causes and risk factors of orthorexia vary from person to person, but there are three main groups. The first is biological, where a close relative has an eating disorder, there is a history of dieting, or even Type 1 diabetes. Psychological is the second group, where a person experiences perfectionism, dissatisfaction with their body, or a history of anxiety. The third group is social or cultural, where someone is teased or bullied for their weight, or having family trauma spanning generations. Those who buy into the idea of an “ideal” body also falls into this grouping.
How to Diagnose Orthorexia
While this is not a disorder formally recognized by the DSM-5, a professor at the University of North Colorado proposed a two-part diagnostic criterion for this condition. The first states that a person will have an obsessive focus on healthy eating and get distressed over food choices they feel are unhealthy. As a result, they will lose weight even though they are not necessarily trying to. The second says the person may notice mental health and physical problems, such as malnutrition, problems with social, work, and school relationships, and body image or self-worth could depend on how well they follow their healthy eating rules.
This is Treatable
The first step to finding a better relationship with food is to recognize that healthy food is good for you, but the obsession causes harm. There are multiple options for treatment for orthorexia. Exposure and responsive prevention can help with changing habits. The more exposure to anxiety inducing situations, the less upsetting it will be. Understanding the negative effects of these actions is also important for change. Cognitive restricting or reframing can help identify habits and beliefs that cause stress, then replace them with less rigid thoughts and actions. Finally, relaxation training, like breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, and yoga can all aid someone working through their orthorexia.
Healthy Food is Good, but Obsessing is Not
While this is a newer concept, orthorexia is a very real thing people deal with. It may be seen as something to not worry about as it is focused on healthy food, but it is something to be aware of and something to be corrected. Eating healthy is great, but not when it consumes a person’s life, causing anxiety and wasting hours researching different foods. Having a support system can be very helpful and aid in recovery of any eating disorder. If you or someone you know shows signs of any eating disorder, please know there is help out there and do not be afraid to speak up.
