Please note: At Change Creates Change, we do not describe foods as ‘good,’ ‘bad,’ ‘healthy,’ or ‘unhealthy.’ However, we will refer to these words for the purpose of this blog post.
Orthorexia Symptoms
Folks living with Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) are focused on eating what they consider to be ‘healthy.’ It is important to recognize that someone who is concerned about the nutritional content of foods is not necessarily living with ON. The key difference between ON and positive eating habits is that folks with ON fixate on only eating foods they consider to be ‘healthy.’ In contrast, someone with a positive relationship with food realizes that all foods fit.
Folks living with ON avoid the foods that they consider to be ‘unhealthy.’ Unfortunately, this can cause folks to have a very restricted food intake, often leading to nutritional deficiencies and medical complications. Some of the folks living with ON may also be living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
ON is not recognized in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as being an eating disorder. However, this does not mean that ON does not need to be taken seriously.
Orthorexia and Exercise
Folks who regularly exercise display more ON symptoms than those who do not. If your child is living with ON, they may believe intense exercise paired with ‘healthy’ eating can help them achieve their ‘optimal’ physical health. However, your child’s ‘healthy’ eating paired with intense exercise can result in a calorie deficit. Being in a calorie deficit means that your child is not eating as much as they require which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Social Media
Research has shown that using social media websites, such as Instagram, can increase your child’s risk of developing ON. Photos on Instagram may promote social pressure for thinness. Your child can also easily compare their body to others’ bodies on Instagram. Some of the photos your child may be seeing on Instagram could be highly edited and not representative of someone’s actual body.
Orthorexia vs. Anorexia
Folks living with ON and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) fixate on the foods they consume. As a result, folks living with ON and AN both restrict their food intake, specifically the quantity and/or types of foods they eat. This restriction can lead to similar signs, symptoms and physical complications in folks living with either ON or AN.
Orthorexia Treatment
There is no specific treatment approach for ON. However, ON treatment approaches may be similar to the treatment approach for AN and/or OCD. Treatment will focus on weight restoration if needed, and exposing your child to foods they were previously avoiding. During orthorexia recovery, your child will slowly begin incorporating more foods into their diet. Remember, early treatment gives your child the best chance at recovery.
Are you interested in learning more? Click below to register for our free on-demand webinar, First, Do No Harm, for parents of children living with an eating disorder presented by our Clinical Director, Jillian Walsh, RD, RP.
