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Healthy eating is important, but when it becomes obsessive, it can lead to orthorexia, a disorder marked by an extreme focus on food quality and purity.
Orthorexia can lead to a poor quality of life.
While healthy eating is essential, it can become problematic when it turns obsessive, leading to restrictive eating habits. This behaviour, known as orthorexia or orthorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder characterized by an intense preoccupation with food quality and purity.
Symptoms of Orthorexia
Individuals with orthorexia often avoid meals prepared by others, fear foodborne illnesses, and exhibit excessive anxiety about their dietary choices. Over time, this fixation can lead to physical symptoms such as malnutrition and psychological distress. Additionally, orthorexia can severely impact one’s quality of life, straining personal relationships and causing social isolation. Recognizing and addressing these patterns early is crucial to preventing their harmful effects.
In a conversation with HT Lifestyle, Tanya Khanna, a nutritionist and yoga trainer at Alyve Health, explained that while adopting healthy eating habits is generally beneficial, orthorexia takes this behaviour to an extreme level. She highlighted that this excessive focus on food’s health benefits can harm both mental and physical well-being, as well as disrupt a person’s social life. Khanna emphasized that individuals dealing with orthorexia are predominantly preoccupied with the perceived health value of the food they consume, rather than being focused on weight loss.
The Effects of Orthorexia on Overall Well-Being
Orthorexia can significantly impact mental, physical, and social health, disrupting various aspects of daily life:
1. Mental and Emotional Well-Being:
People with orthorexia often experience heightened anxiety or guilt surrounding their food choices, coupled with an obsessive focus on the quality, preparation, and sourcing of what they eat. This constant preoccupation can lead to increased stress and emotional distress, negatively affecting their mental health.
2. Physical Health:
Overly restrictive eating habits, such as cutting out entire food groups, can result in severe nutrient deficiencies. Such imbalances may lead to chronic fatigue, a weakened immune system, and hormonal disruptions, leaving the body less resilient and more vulnerable to health issues.
3. Social Life and Relationships:
The need to maintain rigid dietary rules can make individuals avoid shared meals or social gatherings, contributing to feelings of isolation. This withdrawal from social interactions can strain personal relationships and foster loneliness, further exacerbating the emotional toll of orthorexia.
Strategies to Overcome Orthorexia
- Embrace a Balanced Perspective: Recognize that labelling foods as good or bad can be unhelpful. Instead, aim for moderation and variety in your diet.
- Consult a Professional: Collaborate with a qualified dietitian, nutritionist, or therapist to identify and address underlying causes of orthorexia and develop healthier habits.
- Cultivate Mindful Eating Habits: Learn to enjoy your meals without judgment, paying attention to your body’s natural signals for hunger and fullness.
- Limit Exposure to Excessive Nutrition Advice: Avoid getting caught up in an overload of dietary information or trends focused on clean eating, as these can perpetuate obsessive behaviours.
- Prioritize Holistic Wellness: Shift your focus toward overall health, emphasizing mental well-being, meaningful relationships, and physical fitness rather than solely concentrating on dietary perfection.