The Hidden Struggle: Understanding and Overcoming Orthorexia Nervosa

Let’s assume a situation:

You’re invited to a dinner party, where at one end you find yourself surrounded by friends and relatives and at the other, the captivating, mouthwatering flavors of freshly cooked dishes. The table in front of you is served with stunning tastes of various foods—some rich and indulgent, others light and vibrant.

I am talking about a lesser-known, but equally noteworthy condition, Orthorexia Nervosa, an obsession with healthy eating with associated restrictive behaviors. For every normal person, this situation could be a stroke of silver lining. But for someone struggling with orthorexia, this seemingly joyful gathering can trigger anxiety and internal conflict.

Orthorexia Nervosa: Restrictions of Healthy Eating

At its core, orthorexia nervosa is a misguided quest for health that begins with a well-intentioned focus on eating nutritious food but gradually spirals into an unhealthy obsession. It begins innocently enough—just as a sincere desire to nourish our bodies with nutritious and wholesome foods. After all, who wouldn’t want to prioritize their well-being? Everyone wants a perfect and healthy lifestyle, having a fit physique. But gradually, this simple idea of being a healthy person can morph into an all-consuming fixation, where food choices become so rigid, ritualistic, and anxiety-inducing.

You start meticulously scanning labels, scrutinizing ingredient lists, and precisely curating your meals. You start to avoid entire food groups, believing that certain foods are “pure” while others are impure or harmful to you. Enjoyable social events become minefields—what if the menu doesn’t align with your strict dietary rules? You might decline invitations or bring your own carefully prepared meals, inadvertently isolating yourself from the joy of communal dining.

A Brief History of Orthorexia

Dr. Steven Bratman first coined the term “orthorexia” in 1997. It has Greek roots: “ortho” meaning “correct” and “orexis” meaning “appetite”. He noticed a paradox: The very dietary restrictions that were originally meant to enhance and promote health conditions can be a source of anxiety as well. As you carefully choose what to eat, anxiety grows when there aren’t many ‘approved’ foods available. As a result, your quality of life diminishes. In extreme cases, malnutrition or even death can result from this relentless pursuit of nutritional purity.

Some key identifiers/symptoms of orthorexia nervosa:

1. Being Super Selective About Food Quality:
   • People with orthorexia worry a lot about where their food comes from and how healthy it is.
   • They might avoid eating meals prepared by others because they’re concerned about the ingredients.
2. Being Desolated at Social Gatherings:
   • The strict food rules can make social events tricky.
   • Imagine skipping a dinner party because the menu doesn’t match your dietary rules—that’s what happens.
3. Health Risks Galore:
   • Extreme dieting can lead to malnutrition and weight loss.
   • Plus, the constant focus on food can mess with daily life and relationships.
4. Preoccupied Thoughts for Food Planning:
   • Individuals suffering from orthorexia spend a load of time thinking about their meals.
   • They research nutrients, plan meticulously, and sometimes feel guilty if they eat something they consider “unhealthy.”
5. Physical Signs of Malnutrition:
   • When people start restricting the variety of foods they consume, then it can lead to insufficient nourishment and subsequent weight loss, which further may result in inaniation (extreme weakness).

But here’s the twist: Orthorexia isn’t officially recognized as an eating disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. It doesn’t have a dedicated entry in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). And if you ask why, perhaps because it lies somewhere at the blurry line between self-care and self-harm.

Domains Affected by Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia nervosa, the restrictive food behavior, can cause several problems and can affect our daily lives including the following aspects:

Selective eating habits can have a negative effect physically as they may cause malnutrition, electrolyte irregularity where the lack of vital nutrients imbalances the electrolytes in the body, bradycardia (a condition where the heart rate becomes slower than normal i.e. fewer than 60 beats per minute), anaemia (a condition of extreme exhaustion and burnout due to deficit of iron, vitamin B12), and other abdominal complaints.

Other than the physiological effects, one’s psychological health may also be affected as individuals, who constantly try to avoid the “unhealthy” foods or foods that they do not find consumable, may become irritated and can face frustration. If individuals break their self-imposed dietary restrictions or attempt to consume regular food, they often experience feelings of sadness and regret.

Not only physiologically or psychologically, but individuals are affected socially as well. It becomes harder for them to be a part of any social gatherings or events as they have a fear of not finding the appropriate foods for them. Persistent preoccupation with food and a feeling of superiority can make social interactions challenging.

The Path to Healing

Now, you may get stuck with a question, i.e. Is orthorexia curable? And thankfully, the answer goes with a resounding ‘yes’. Recovery involves various approaches that involve:

1. Professional Advice: Individuals facing the issue can go for mental health professionals’ advice who have expertise in eating disorders. They can be assisted with techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
2. Expanding the Food Choice: Individuals can try to move ahead with their food choices by gradually expanding their taste in foods and by doing so they can challenge their own rigid rules.
3. Thoughtful Eating: Rather than being stuck to their rigid rules, individuals should try enjoying their meal, savoring each bite, and relishing the social aspects of dining.
4. Joyful Food Freedom: Healing from orthorexia means learning to enjoy food again. This may help individuals live a balanced life with their meals.

Orthorexia is not a disease that needs to be feared. We just have to take care of the thing that we have to feed not just your body, but also your spirit, that our ultimate goal is seeking balance, and not restriction. And also we must remember, health isn’t in monotony; it’s in the kaleidoscope of tastes and the joy of breaking bread with others.

In the journey towards well-being, we find “the healthiest diet is the one that feeds our bodies and souls, infusing joy and freedom into our eating experience.”

Nandini Jaiswal

Content creator at PsychOnPoint, Nandini is an M.A. student at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, majoring in Psychology. She works with PsyConnect and has a keen interest in psychology. Additionally, she enjoys writing and exploring various facets of human behavior through her academic and creative pursuits.

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