As an eating disorder therapist in Provo, Utah, I often encounter various misconceptions about eating disorders. These misconceptions are about who is likely to have an eating disorder, what behaviors are connected to an eating disorder, and that all eating disorders are the same. So I’m going to break it down for you in this blog series. We’ll start with the lesser-known eating disorder that has become more socially acceptable and often goes untreated as a result. It’s referred to as Orthroexia by eating disorder therapists and can often lead to Anorexia.
What is Orthorexia?
Orthorexia nervosa, often simply referred to as orthorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by an obsessive focus on healthy eating. Unlike other eating disorders that center around the quantity of food consumed, orthorexia fixates on the quality and or “purity” of food. Individuals with orthorexia may eliminate entire food groups from their diet, fearing they are “unhealthy”, and spend an inordinate amount of time planning, purchasing, and preparing their meals to ensure they meet self-imposed standards of health.
Similarities to Anorexia Nervosa
While orthorexia and anorexia nervosa are distinct disorders, they share some similarities:
Preoccupation with Food:
Both disorders involve an intense preoccupation with food, albeit with different focuses—quality for orthorexia and quantity of food with anorexia nervosa.
Control and Restriction:
Individuals with both disorders use food as a means to exert control over their underlying anxieties, leading to restrictive eating patterns.
Perfectionism:
A common trait among sufferers of both conditions is a drive for perfectionism, manifesting in their rigid dietary rules and behaviors.
Negative Impact on Health:
Both disorders can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies and health complications, although the pathways differ.
Differences from Anorexia Nervosa
Despite these similarities, orthorexia and anorexia nervosa have distinct characteristics:
Focus of Obsession:
The primary difference lies in the focus of the obsession. Orthorexia centers on the “purity” and healthiness of food, while anorexia nervosa focuses on calorie intake and beliefs about how food impacts a person's weight.
Motivation:
Individuals with orthorexia are motivated by a desire to achieve optimal health, whereas those with anorexia nervosa are driven by a fear of gaining weight and a desire to become thinner.
Recognition and Diagnosis:
Anorexia nervosa is a well-recognized and diagnostically defined eating disorder in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), while orthorexia is not yet officially recognized as a distinct eating disorder, making diagnosis and treatment more challenging.
Key Features of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by several hallmark features:
Intense Fear of Gaining Weight:
Individuals with anorexia nervosa have an overwhelming fear of gaining weight or maintaining weight, regardless of their current or historical weight, shape, or size.
Distorted Body Image:
They often have a distorted perception of their body size and shape, believing they are consuming more space or in a significantly larger body than they are actually in.
Severe Caloric Restriction:
There is a persistent restriction of food intake, leading to significant health issues and in some cases, a low body weight.
Amenorrhea:
In females, the loss of menstruation, known as amenorrhea, is a common physical symptom of anorexia nervosa.
The Path from Orthorexia to Anorexia:
Orthorexia, with its obsessive focus on healthy eating, can sometimes act as a precursor to anorexia nervosa. This transition often occurs as the rigid dietary rules and restrictions associated with orthorexia become more extreme. What starts as an intense dedication to consuming only "clean" or "pure" foods can evolve into an overarching obsession with calorie restriction and weight loss, hallmarks of anorexia nervosa.
One key factor in this progression is the psychological and emotional overlap between orthorexia and anorexia.
Both disorders involve a desire for control and perfectionism, often rooted in deeper issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, or a need to manage stress. As the individual’s criteria for what is considered "healthy" food become increasingly stringent, their dietary choices may become more limited, leading to significant caloric deficits. This shift from prioritizing health to avoiding calories can gradually transform orthorexia into anorexia.
The societal and cultural pressures that glorify thinness and the "perfect" body can also play a significant role in this transition. Individuals with orthorexia may start to internalize these ideals, equating their self-worth with their ability to maintain a certain body shape or weight. As their focus shifts from the quality of food to the quantity consumed, they may begin to exhibit behaviors typical of anorexia nervosa, such as extreme food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image.
Start Working With An Eating Disorder Therapist in Provo, UT, Salt Lake City, UT, and Across the State
This transition is often insidious, with the initial intentions of eating healthily becoming overshadowed by an obsessive need to control body weight and appearance. Recognizing the signs of this shift is crucial for early intervention. If you or someone you know is exhibiting increasingly restrictive eating patterns or an unhealthy preoccupation with food and body weight, seek professional help from our team of caring therapists who can help prevent the progression from orthorexia to anorexia. Inside Wellness can offer support for the journey toward recovery. If you or a loved one needs help with eating concerns or an eating disorder, please follow these simple steps:
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