While eating nutritious and healthy food is generally a good habit and strongly recommended for physical well-being, it can sometimes become an obsession with perfection that leads to a disordered eating condition known as orthorexia.
What Is Orthorexia?
Orthorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an unhealthy obsession with eating only “clean” or “pure” foods under strict dietary rules. People with orthorexia are excessively concerned about the quality and nutritional value of the food they consume. This obsession often includes behaviors such as:
- Choosing only foods believed to be healthy
- Avoiding foods considered unhealthy
- Spending a lot of time thinking about food
- Planning meals meticulously
- Monitoring calories or specific nutrients
Symptoms of Orthorexia
Key symptoms include:
- Excessive focus on food quality
- Intense fear of eating “unhealthy” foods
- Feelings of guilt or shame after eating something deemed unhealthy
- Rigid food restrictions
- Anxiety about the health consequences of food choices
Causes of Orthorexia
The exact cause is unknown, but several contributing factors include:
- Exposure to media promoting extreme clean eating
- Underlying psychological conditions such as anxiety or depression
- Personality traits like perfectionism or narcissism
Harms of Orthorexia
An extreme obsession with healthy eating can lead to various physical and mental health problems, such as:
- Weight loss
- Malnutrition
- Social isolation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Cardiovascular problems
- Kidney issues
- Digestive system disorders
Treatment for Orthorexia
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment, but psychological therapies can help individuals change their eating behaviors and improve mental health. Common approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps individuals identify and modify unhealthy thoughts and beliefs related to food.
- Family Therapy: Beneficial if family dynamics contribute to the disorder.
- Group Therapy: Offers support and connection with others facing similar challenges.
Prevention Tips
Here are some tips to help prevent orthorexia:
- Develop a healthy relationship with food—food should not be a source of fear or stress.
- Eat a diverse range of healthy foods—don’t fixate on a single food group.
- Avoid extreme or restrictive diets—they can lead to nutritional deficiencies and health problems.
- If you feel anxious about your eating habits, talk to a mental health professional who can assess and guide you appropriately.
