Orthorexia was defined in 1997 by Dr. Steven Bratman, MD. Orthorexia is currently not recognised as an official diagnosable eating disorder and would fall under the clinical category of Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED). Orthorexia is driven by an obsession with healthy or “clean” eating habits and leads to people cutting out essential food groups. This can start off gradual (such as cutting out sugar or be triggered by an intolerance such as dairy) and become more restrictive by cutting out more food groups over time leading to striking similarities with Anorexia. As with other eating disorders, the eating behaviour involved – “healthy” or “clean” eating in this case – is used to cope with negative thoughts and feelings, or to feel in control. Someone using food in this way might feel extremely anxious or guilty if they eat food they feel is unhealthy.
All eating disorders are serious mental illnesses, and should be treated as quickly as possible to give the sufferer the best chance of fully recovering.
BEHAVIOURAL signs
- Cutting out particular foods and food groups from their diet in an attempt to make their diet more healthy. More and more foods may be cut out over time.
- Taking an existing theory about healthy eating and adapting it with additional beliefs of their own.
- Poor concentration.
- Judgment about the eating habits of others.
- Obsession with healthy or supposedly healthy diet.
- Increased focus on what they’re eating may interfere with other areas of the person’s life, such as their relationships or work.
Psychological signs
- Obsession with healthy or supposedly healthy diet.
- Increased focus on what they’re eating may interfere with other areas of the person’s life, such as their relationships or work.
- Feeling unable to put aside personal rules about what they can and can’t eat, even if they want to.
- Feelings of anxiety, guilt, or uncleanliness over eating food they regard as unhealthy.
- Emotional wellbeing is overly dependent on eating the “right” food.
- Low mood or depression.
Physical signs
If someone with orthorexia is following a diet that cuts out important food groups or nutrients, this could lead to malnutrition, with signs such as:
- Weight loss.
- Feeling weaker.
- Tiredness.
- Taking a long time to recover from illness.
- Feeling cold.
- Low energy levels.
Emotional Eating