Lately I’ve noticed that fitness talk has dominated a lot of the social media space. Many men and women of all ages are focusing on “fitness” building muscle, building strength, focusing on nutrition, getting those macros and micro nutrients, walking 10K steps etc. All good things right? Well, maybe…scrolling through video after video, something that came to mind was “orthorexia”.
What Is Orthorexia?
What is orthorexia? It’s something that I think often flies under the radar, because many of the ways it can present are often societally celebrated. Words like determined, regimented, accountable, consistent etc. However, I think it’s important to remember that the flip side of those words could be rigid, obsessive, or restricted. “Although not formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM-5 TR, awareness about orthorexia is on the rise. The term ‘orthorexia’ was coined in 1997 and means an obsession with proper or ‘healthful’ eating or behaviors” (https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/orthorexia/) .
So I Can’t Eat Healthy and Exercise?
To be clear, being aware of and concerned with the nutritional quality of the food you eat or making sure that you move your body isn’t a problem in and of itself. People with orthorexia become so fixated on so-called ‘healthy eating’ that they actually damage their own well-being and can experience health consequences such as malnutrition and/or impairment of psychosocial functioning.
What Are The Symptoms of Orthorexia?
The following are some symptoms of orthorexia…
Compulsive checking of ingredient lists and nutritional labels. This might mean that someone won’t or feels anxiety if they are unable to access ingredient lists or chooses not to eat something they can’t look at the nutrition on.
An increase in concern about the health of ingredients.
Cutting out an increasing number of food groups (i.e. all sugar, all carbs, all dairy, all meat, all animal products).
An inability or unwillingness to eat anything but a narrow group of foods that are deemed ‘healthy’ or ‘pure’.
Putting moralistic labels on food and being restrictive with foods labeled as “bad”.
Unusual interest in the health of what others are eating.
Punishing or having to “make up for” having had “bad foods”.
Pushing food beliefs on others (including children, spouses, friends etc.).
A feeling of superiority around their nutrition and intolerance of other people’s food behaviors and beliefs.
High levels of perfectionism.
Spending hours per day thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events or when they will be able to exercise.
Not being able to miss a gym day or workout. Having a rigid schedule around movement.
Showing levels of distress when ‘safe’ or ‘healthy’ foods aren’t available.
Obsessive following of food and ‘healthy lifestyle’ blogs on social media.
Body image concerns may or may not be present.
Psychosocial impairments in different areas of life, impacts on social relationships, etc.
What's the Prevalence?
Without formal diagnostic criteria, it’s difficult to get an estimate on precisely how many people have orthorexia, and whether it’s a stand-alone eating disorder, a type of existing eating disorder like anorexia nervosa, or a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What’s The Treatment?
Treatment usually involves a multidisciplinary team approach which might include a physician, therapist, and/or dietitian.
Finding balance in life is so important. Things like movement, nourishing your body and paying attention to health and wellbeing of your body is important. And, just as important, is allowing for flexibility. Making sure you’re making time for friends, engaging with food and movement in a way that allows you to enjoy it, and allow for flexibility in your life. Grandmom’s cookies have just as much of a place and purpose as that caesar salad. Allowing food to have power over you is disruptive and can be distressing, but we can heal our relationships with food and take the charge away from the nutrition label. Be aware of how food and movement makes you feel and be cautious about what kind of content you are consuming on you socials
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