That line is crossed once eating healthfully—or purely—becomes an obsession. Once one enters this realm of healthy eating obsession, orthorexia nervosa may be the culprit (“ortho” means straight and “orexia” refers to appetite).

Yes—orthorexia nervosa– not anorexia nervosa. They are both psychological disorders, yet they differ in that those with anorexia nervosa, as well as bulimia nervosa, obsess about calories, weight, and the quantity of food consumed, whereas those with orthorexia nervosa obsess, on a long-term basis, about “healthy” eating and the quality of foods consumed.  Simply put, orthorexics strive for personal purity in their eating habits—think lots of “raw foods” straight from Mother Earth. Here, weight and calories are not the main focus—“pure” foods are.

Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher, a clinical psychologist and director of the eating disorders clinic at the University of Illinois at Chicago, stated in The Downside of Eating Too Healthy:

While orthorexia begins with a desire to achieve better health, it’s very connected to an underlying fear of food. If I believe the food will make me sick, I become afraid of it, and I avoid it and, bit by bit, continue to avoid more and more food types.

Orthorexia is not an officially recognized disorder. According to Psychology Today, the term was coined in 1997 by Alternative Medicine Specialist and author of  the book Health Food Junkies, Steven Bratman, who suffered from the disorder himself. In the article Orthorexia: Good Diets Gone Bad, Bratman states, “”This is about the obsession with eating to improve your health.”

In Orthorexia: Good Diets Gone Bad, Bratman says:

The obsession doesn’t necessarily lie just between the mouth and the other end. An out-of-control healthy eater feels a sense of spirituality…You’re doing a good, virtuous thing. You also feel that because it’s difficult to do, it must be virtuous. The more extreme you are, the more virtuous you feel

P.S. there is NOTHING wrong with root veggies, tropical fruits, grains, or beans! In fact, these things are packed with phytochemicals, minerals, vitamins, and fiber! EAT. THEM. UP.

What are signs of Orthorexia?

According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, people suffering from this obsession may exhibit the following characteristics:

• Spending more than three hours a day thinking about healthy food
• Planning tomorrow’s menu today
• Feeling virtuous about what they eat, but not enjoying it much
• Continually limiting the number of foods they eat
• Experiencing a reduced quality of life or social isolation (because their diet makes it difficult for them to eat anywhere but at home)
• Feeling critical of others who do not eat as well they do
• Skipping foods they once enjoyed in order to eat the “right” foods
• Feeling guilt or self-loathing when they stray from their diet
• Feeling in “total” control when they eat the correct diet

Treatment Info

According to Astrachan-Fletcher,

Orthorexia should be treated as anorexia. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the treatment for anorexia is three-pronged: “restoring the person to a healthy weight, treating the psychological issues related to the eating disorder, [and] reducing or eliminating behaviors or thoughts that lead to disordered eating, and preventing a relapse.

In treatment, Medical Doctors, Registered Dietitians, and psychotherapists specializing in eating disorders, each play an integral role in getting the patient back up to a healthified stance.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Multiple articles on this topic have appeared over the last few weeks, and I have received questions on the topic. Hence, I was prompted to share my findings with you. But, even more so—I wanted to show how a good thing—eating “healthfully”—can be taken way too far!

Yes, stacking your plate high with veggies and fruits, getting in lean sources of protein, amping up the fiber, downing low-fat or non-fat dairy, wheeling and dealing heart healthy beans, and crushin’ on whole grains, are uber important for health and wellness! But, what I also think is HIGHLY important is enjoying your life and your food!

My rule of thumb is eat 90% healthy and allow for a daily 10% indulgence. So go ahead–have that slice of cake, scoop of ice cream, or few Hershey’s kisses—just make sure it’s not half a cake, 5 scoops of ice cream, or 20 kisses—see the difference?

You should truly enjoy the food you eat and allow for a daily treat! After all, who wants to eat boring “health” food all their life? If you don’t like your “healthy” chow, try new healthy recipes! Go snag a healthy cookbook you like—buy one used if you’re short on cash. Or, spend a couple hours browsing online—with the gazillion foodie sites now awaiting for that click of your mouse, I’m sure you’ll find some recipes you adore!

Lastly, DON’T feel restricted because if you do—I bet that cabinet with the “forbidden” foods will soon not be so forbidden. Make that food “unforbidden,” have a serving, and then put it back. The problem will be if you can’t put it back,  then and only then, you may want to consider temporarily evicting that item from your place.

The Bottom Line:

If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, get in touch with a medical professional—they are treatable disorders. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association for further information and helpful resources.

Eat healthy fare you enjoy and indulge in a sweet treat now and then! After all, you follow a healthy lifestyle NOT a diet.  AND, if you ask me, a lifestyle just isn’t healthy if you aren’t happy!

Happy Healthifying!

What are your thoughts?