Orthorexia Nervosa

An individual with orthorexia is fixated with the quality, rather than quantity, of their food to an excessive degree. Orthorexia can start with ‘healthy’ or ‘clean’ eating, then progress to the elimination of entire food groups such as dairy or grains, and then to the avoidance of foods such as those with artificial additives, foods treated with pesticides, or particular ingredients (e.g. fat, sugar or salt).

Typically orthorexic behaviours and attitudes are common amongst people with eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder.

Symptoms of Orthorexia Nervosa

The symptoms of orthorexia go beyond a simple interest in healthy eating. A person with orthorexia may experience:
Strong anxiety about their food choices, particularly around their diet not meeting their personal high standards of ‘purity’
Heightened self-esteem when eating foods that are ‘healthy’
Mood swings, anxiety and depression
Feelings of satisfaction and happiness from clean, healthy, pure eating
Feelings of guilt when consuming foods that are not considered healthy and pure
Excessive time spent thinking about food and the consumption of food
Regular advanced meal planning, feelings of guilt and displeasure when meals are not planned in advance
Avoidance of eating food away from home or not prepared in your home kitchen, because you will not be able to comply easily with your healthy eating plan
Creating distance between friends and family who do not share the same beliefs you have about food

The Extent of the Issue

When compulsive behaviors and mental preoccupations with healthy eating start to impair an individuals quality of life, you may end up suffering from severe weight loss, and malnutrition. Typically, Orthorexia Nervosa may cause problems in an individuals social, academic, or work life. Individuals may typically also suffer from negative self-worth, negative body image, and become obsessively dependent on their healthy eating lifestyle to the point of social isolation.

Treatment Options

There is no official treatment designed specifically for someone suffering from orthorexia however Uniquely Human Psychology will treat the condition similarly to Anorexia Nervosa or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) . Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which has been found to be the most effective treatment option. ERP is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This method of exposure therapy gradually exposes an individual to the obsession to allow the person to cope with the anxiety in a healthier way. ERP can support an individual in changing their obsessive thought patterns about food and at the same time, treat any co-existing mental health conditions, such as depression, panic disorders, and stress and anxiety disorders.