While most Americans struggle daily with efforts to follow nutrition advice outlined by the US Dietary Guidelines- such as eating fewer total calories and more vegetables; there’s a mindful minority who take healthy eating habits perhaps a bit too seriously. Their excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods they perceive to be unhealthy has been classified as an eating disorder called orthorexia nervosa. The term orthorexia come from the Greek words for “right” and “appetite.”
Coined in the late 90’s by physician Steven Bratman, orthorexia nervosa is not officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association but it’s getting more attention from nutrition professionals who see this kind of behavior in clients.
“They are afraid of food,” says registered dietitian Jim White, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios in Virginia Beach, White says, “I’m concerned because they’re so obsessive. They’ll eat nothing that comes in a box or has more then five ingredients.”
Types of foods avoided vary with the individual’s view of what’s unhealthy but might include those containing sugar, fats, gluten, meats, dairy products or certain additives or preservatives.
Unintended consequences
What divides a commitment to healthy eating and having orthorexia is the extreme limitation in food selection. While it’s a good thing to choose carrots over cookies at snack time, there are potential downsides to cutting out whole food groups from your diet. Going “gluten free” may mean avoiding enriched whole grains that contain folic acid, an important nutrient for women of child bearing years because it helps reduce the incidence of neural tube birth defects in infants. Vegans, who shun all animal products, may be at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency unless their diets are planned very carefully. Avoiding dairy foods cuts out a key source of calcium and vitamin D. Then there’s the mental strain of orthorexia.
Questions developed by Bratman help identify an orthorexic fixation on food choices. Behavioral issues include the following: Do they look down on others who don’t eat this way? Do they skip foods they once enjoyed in order to eat the “right” foods? Does their diet make it difficult for them to eat anywhere but at home, distancing them from family and friends? Do they feel guilt or self-loathing when they stray from their diet?
Real measures of health
Rather than focusing on a checklist of foods to avoid, White guides clients to eat a wide variety of healthful foods and to look for signs their diets are good for their body and mind. “We rate their energy level, their mood, the quality of sleep and stress levels,” says White. “After three months (of eating a well balanced diet) they’ll see changes and listen to what works for the long run.”
About the Author
