What is Orthorexia?
Posted by Sarah Emerman on Fri, Feb 05, 2010 @ 11:10 AM
By, Julie Norman, Registered Dietitian and Registered Yoga Teacher
Orthorexia is an obsession with "pure", "clean", and "healthy" eating. Ironically, the literal translation of the term "orthorexia" means "correct eating". Preservatives, fats, and animal products are often avoided. Often, orthorexia crosses the line from "healthy" eating to disordered eating when it becomes driven by fear of becoming unhealthy. People with orthorexia will maintain their food rules and rituals even in the face of evidence that it is starting to effect their health and other aspects of their life. Sadly, it is the mistaken belief that one is eating in a "healthy" way that eventually leads to being unhealthy.
Orthorexia is similar to anorexia in many ways.
- Food rules and behaviors have a profound effect on multiple areas of a person's life.
- Individuals may spend hours thinking about food and planning what they will eat in the near future.
- People suffering from orthorexia may avoid social situations involving food for fear of violating their food rules. Suffers may avoid eating at restaurants or allowing others to cook for them so as not to consume "unhealthy" ingredients.
- Malnourishment may occur if individuals do not consume enough nutrients, fat, and calories to sustain their bodies.
- Compulsive exercise and obsession with food become much of their identity and impacts their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.
In the professional world it is very hard to differentiate between a person who is willing to go to these extremes for health reasons versus a person who has a drive for thinness. Therefore, orthorexia is not currently considered a formal diagnosis in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual and is usually grouped together with anorexia or an unspecified eating disorder by clinicians.
Next week: How do you know if you're getting evidence-based treatment?
Contributions by Sarah Emerman and Dr. Mark Warren