Is Orthorexia Nervosa an Eating Disorder or Mental Health Issue? Here’s What Psychologists Say

Do you know, or have you ever wondered why some people you know are restricting themselves to eating just organic foods, remove whole food groups from their diet or limit themselves to consuming just raw foods?

These people might have an eating disorder called Orthorexia Nervosa. According to diet and nutrition experts, this condition goes beyond a general apprehension of keeping a healthy diet.  

For those with this eating disorder, the search for what they believe is a "perfect diet" takes up a considerable amount of time and energy, not to mention disrupts work, studies, and even relationships. In some circumstances, it can even result in malnutrition.

Clinical psychologist Jennifer Mills, from York University in Toronto, Ontario said, there is a disagreement over whether this condition is a valid diagnosis.

(Photo: PxHere)
A study published in 2017, in the Eating and Weight Disorders journal, found a high predominance of orthorexia symptoms ‘among the healthy-eating community’, particularly on Instagram.

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Different Orthorexia Diagnoses

According to reports on this condition, Orthorexia is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-5's current edition. DSM-5 is the official diagnostic guide of the American Psychological Association, last updated in 2013, and contents criteria for different psychological conditions.

Some experts claim this condition falls under the category of other mental health diagnoses. Meanwhile, others say recognition of orthorexia makes healthy eating habits appear "abnormal or unhealthy," Mills said.

However, in recent years, the psychologist also explained, this condition has gained growing attention from scientists and clinicians.

"There is a consensus," she elaborated, that orthorexia departs from what is considered to be a normal or healthy eating habit. The study really emphasized how people with this eating pattern can really suffer significantly.

Symptoms of this Eating Disorder

University of Northern Colorado psychologist Thomas Dunn said that orthorexia is different from a "healthy preoccupation with diet in that it is an obsession" that impairs this person's well-being suffering from the disorder.

Dunn added symptoms of this condition might be psychological in nature. More so, he explained, they may eventually appear as deficiencies that can lead to several health issues.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, those who have orthorexia tend to compulsively checklists of ingredients and nutritional labels of the food they intend to eat. More so, they spend hours each day planning their meals and eliminate an increasing number of food groups like all sugar, all dairy, or all carbs from their diet.

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What Causes Orthorexia?

While restriction in food is not a new phenomenon, Dunn said, this condition "is largely a product of modern cultural trends."

A growing cultural focus on health and well-being may add to the prevalence of this eating disorder, explained Dunn.

Some evidence has shown, he added, that people who have careers that focus on health and nutrition like dietitians, for one or those in the entertainment industry like the actors, are at greater risk of acquiring orthorexia compared to the general populace, possibly due to the focus of their careers on a diet or pressure to become a model of healthy eating habit for other people.

Another cause of this disorder is social media. A study published in 2017 in the Eating and Weight Disorders journal found a high predominance of orthorexia symptoms "among the healthy-eating community," particularly on Instagram.

This community comprises health professionals, non-professionals, and influencers, creating posts on IG about their diets.

The more frequent a person used the app, the study indicated, as judged by the number of posts, the more orthorexia symptoms they experienced.

Treating the Disorder

Mills said there is no one agreed-upon method in terms of treatment method for orthorexia. Instead, treatment is typically tailored to a specific person.

In some cases, Mills specified, such an approach might engage cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps an individual "identify to replace distorted or harmful thoughts and beliefs about food."

For underweight or malnourished people, treatment may involve re-establishing eating patterns and their healthy weight.

Another effective way of curing orthorexia is what psychologists call "exposure and response prevention." The more one is exposed to the situation that's causing anxiety, the less he gets upset by it.

People with this eating disorder may also engage in different forms of relaxation training, such as breathing exercises, yoga, and mindfulness meditation, among others.

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