Orthorexia nervosa: When does health consciousness become a problem?

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If you've never heard of orthorexia nervosa before, it's time to start paying attention. Unlike other eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, orthorexia is not an officially recognized illness. This doesn't change the fact that it has profound effects on thousands of people's lives and can be quite damaging in severe cases. And now, a collection of 21st-century dietary trends seem to be converging to form a perfect set of conditions for orthorexia to thrive among a much larger number of individuals.

What is orthorexia nervosa?

Orthorexia nervosa has been defined by one study as a "maniacal obsession for healthy food." It is an extreme fixation on diet and nutrition, especially with regard to food purity and the moral and ethical implications of diet. It's closely related to obsessive-compulsive disorder in that orthorexics are food perfectionists who are fixated upon being correct down to the tiniest details of their diet.

Like anorexics and bulimics, people with orthorexia usually have strong emotional relationships with food. Eating causes high highs and low lows. According to one orthorexia study, orthorexics tend to "demonstrate a strong or uncontrollable desire to eat when feeling nervous, excited, happy, or guilty," which is very similar to symptoms of other eating disorders. Many also experience severe guilt after eating something they consider to be "bad" or "impure." Unlike anorexics and bulimics, orthorexia sufferers aren't likely to respond to this guilt with self-destructive or dangerous methods, but there have been many documented cases of orthorexia being a gateway to these other disorders.

Orthorexia has other negative effects, including these:

• Some orthorexics become so obsessed with food that it gets in the way of their everyday life, interfering with work, school, or personal responsibilities.
• Orthorexics commonly get depressed after eating food that they consider to be bad.
• Many orthorexics treat food as a moral issue and look down upon others who have bad eating habits, and this can put a strain on relationships.
• Some orthorexics are so strict about their eating habits that they end up malnourished.
• Orthorexics often resort to hardcore cleanses and other diets that can be detrimental to one's health when used in excess.

Symptoms of orthorexia

Although this disorder has not yet been defined in strict medical terms, it is commonly agreed that the most frequent symptoms are:

• Obsessive meal planning
• Hours spent daily thinking about or researching food
• Feelings of superiority over people don't show a similar interest in food
• Self-punishment and guilt after eating something "wrong"
• Strong emotional connection to food
• Talking about almost nothing but food
• Fixation on maintaining a certain weight

But isn't it a good thing to care about nutrition?

One of the most troublesome things about orthorexia is the difficulty of distinguishing the disorder from a simple healthy interest in food. After all, most of us would agree that modern society faces some very serious food and nutrition-related issues. The obesity epidemic is sweeping the developed world, while things like factory farming make many types of food both less ethical and less nutritious. In light of these issues, some would even argue that most people are far too unconcerned with diet and nutrition, and that people need to take a more active role in dealing with these issues.

All of this may be true, but there is a pretty easily identifiable line that separates a healthy interest in food from orthorexia. The line is crossed when the individual begins to suffer due to his or her obsession. Orthorexia can get in the way of a healthy, balanced life, and it can put a strain on relationships.

Anyone who is worried that he or she may have crossed the line into orthorexia can get help. Although it is not yet an officially recognized disorder, most mental health professionals, particularly those who specialize in eating disorder treatment, are aware of orthorexia and its effects. By working with one of these professionals, you can begin getting to the bottom of this issue and begin moving forward.