An obsession with eating ‘clean’ or ‘healthy’ can be both physically and emotionally damaging
In general, it’s good to follow a balanced diet. But sometimes, being so focused on your health can swing in the opposite direction — and become harmful to both your body and mind.
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Psychologist Kasey Goodpaster, PhD, explains what orthorexia nervosa is and what treatments may help.
Orthorexia nervosa is a pathological obsession with eating “clean” or “healthy” foods. People who have this condition focus on their diet so strictly (and so restrictively) that it takes both a physical and mental toll.
The name comes from the English ortho, meaning “proper,” and orexia, Latin for “appetite.” Nervosa is Latin for something that relates to the nervous system, causing mental and emotional distress.
Behaviors associated with orthorexia typically include:
“These behaviors share many characteristics with anorexia nervosa,” Dr. Goodpaster says. “The difference is that people living with anorexia restrict the quantity of the food they eat, whereas people living with orthorexia focus on the quality of the food.”
Though orthorexia is often referred to as an eating disorder, it isn’t listed in the DSM-5, the manual that mental health providers use to diagnose mental health conditions (including eating disorders). More and more research is being done on this condition, though, and it’s acknowledged by the National Eating Disorders Association.
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Because it’s not an officially recognized eating disorder, it’s hard to define where, exactly, healthy eating ends and an obsessive fixation on nutrition begins. But based on existing research compiled by the National Eating Disorders Association and others, here’s a look at behaviors that may point to orthorexia:
“The line between a commitment to healthy eating and orthorexia lies with the ability (or inability) to practice moderation, and whether the drive to eat healthily creates distress,” Dr. Goodpaster explains.
Living with an eating disorder can be both physically and emotionally damaging, negatively impacting your quality of life. Some of the effects of orthorexia can include:
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Anyone can develop an eating disorder. But you may be at higher risk for orthorexia nervosa if you have a history of:
“The obsession with ‘clean’ eating seems to be another manifestation of our diet culture, in which there is a heavy emphasis on thinness often masked by a desire for health,” Dr. Goodpaster notes.
Research agrees. As one study puts it, “Constant exposure to curated images of seemingly ‘perfect’ bodies and ‘healthy’ eating habits can create an environment that normalizes extreme dieting and reinforces that adhering to strict dietary rules is the key to achieving health and success.”
There aren’t many studies that evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for orthorexia. But experts say cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help, especially an approach called “exposure and response prevention” that aims to reduce eating-related obsessions. It has been proven effective for conditions like OCD.
This type of therapy involves slowly reintroducing you to foods you fear, while a trained therapist helps you learn to recognize and redirect your intrusive thoughts about food. They can also teach intuitive eating principles and mindfulness strategies.
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“Eating is so complex that it’s downright impossible to be perfect,” Dr. Goodpaster recognizes. “A healthier and more sustainable lifestyle comes from learning to recognize that deviating from your intentions to eat in a particular manner is completely normal — and not a sign of personal failure.”
If you or someone you know shows signs of orthorexia, talk with a healthcare provider about your concerns.
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