Being health-conscious, and mindful of what you are eating is an amazing habit. However, if this habit converts into an obsession, it can become a problem, which is technically known as Orthorexia Nervosa, a condition in which one becomes addicted to eating only “healthy” foods.
First named by Steven Bratman in 1997, orthorexia nervosa (ON) comes from Greek where ortho means correct, and orexi means appetite. It is, however, used to describe an obsession with “healthy” eating with associated restrictive behaviors.
Restrictive behaviour may include aggressive dieting, eliminating certain food groups entirely, cleanses/fasts etc. Although being aware of and concerned with the nutritional quality of the food you eat isn’t a problem in itself, people suffering from orthorexia become so fixated on so-called ‘healthy eating’ that they actually damage their own well-being.
Some of the common symptoms associated with ON are preoccupation and obsession about “healthy” and “unhealthy” eating, excessive restrictive behaviour, exaggerated emotional distress in relation to food choices perceived as unhealthy, compulsive checking of ingredient lists and nutritional labels, an increasign concern about the health of ingredients, cutting out an increasing number of food groups (all sugar, all carbs, all dairy, etc.), 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 distress when ‘safe’ or ‘healthy’ foods aren’t available, obessive following of food and ‘healthy lifestyle’ blogs on Twitter and Instagram, excessive body image concerns to look mascular.
Orthorexia nervosa is commonly associated with perfectionism and social isolation. There is frequent comorbidity with anxiety disorders as well as other eating disorder. Individuals with a high self focus, poor body image, poor self esteem etc are at greater risk, say doctors.
Most people benefit from psychotherapy, particularly CBT involving some form of exposure or behavioural work. A combination of working on the maladaptive thoughts as well as dysfunctional behaviour can benefit some people apart from varied forms of counselling and support.
You have decided to be healthier with changing your eating habits and beginning a workout routine. People start to notice and ask what you have been doing. You are now known as the go-to person for nutrition advice in your office. You take pride in being healthy and being able to refuse the office treats during a coworker’s birthday.
However, food obsession is not a healthy relationship with food. Not for your body, not for your mind, and not for your soul.
Someone may begin to eat healthier to be healthier, but with orthorexia that is typically a disguise for wanting to lose weight, be thinner, feel in control, improve self-esteem, or wanting to feel they are liked or take pride in their ability to follow such a restrictive and challenging approach. The obsession with food bleeds into their overall thought process. Food is what controls them and their lives.
Meticulously reading labels, planning out all meals and snacks, not being able to deviate from that plan, and preparing the meals and snacks may become their only perceived enjoyment. In severe cases, nothing matters more than the quality of the food. Not work, not relationships, not the body’s internal cues. Just as with an eating disorder, orthorexia is all consuming.
The clean eating movement and society’s overall obsession with health and thinness has allowed for those struggling with disordered eating to potentially believe that what they are doing is healthy or “normal.” Just because something is a cultural norm does not mean it is “normal” or healthy. If you are isolating yourself and obsessing over whether or not to go out with friends because you do not know the ingredients of the dish at the restaurant then this is a problem and you should seek out support. If you consistently feel guilty after eating what you have deemed “unhealthy” this is not a healthy relationship with food. Following food rules that cannot be flexible is not a way to live.
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