In a world obsessed with clean eating and wellness trends, a lesser-known but equally significant eating disorder has emerged: orthorexia nervosa. Orthorexia involves an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating, to the point where it interferes with daily life and overall well-being.
This blog serves as a guide to orthorexia, its unique challenges, and effective treatment strategies aimed at promoting a balanced relationship with food.
Table of Contents
Understanding Orthorexia
Orthorexia nervosa, coined by Dr. Steven Bratman in 1997, stems from a fixation on consuming only foods deemed “clean,” “pure,” or “healthy.” While a focus on nutritious eating is generally positive, individuals with orthorexia take it to an extreme, often avoiding entire food groups, scrutinizing ingredient lists, and experiencing anxiety or guilt when faced with “impure” foods. This rigid dietary regimen can lead to malnutrition, social isolation, and diminished quality of life.
Challenges of Orthorexia Treatment
Treating orthorexia presents unique challenges compared to other eating disorders. Unlike anorexia or bulimia, where the focus is on the quantity of food consumed, orthorexia centers around the perceived quality of food.
Additionally, individuals with orthorexia may struggle to recognize their behavior as problematic, as they believe they are simply striving for optimal health. Overcoming the rigid beliefs and behaviors associated with orthorexia requires a nuanced and comprehensive approach to treatment.
Guide to Orthorexia Treatment Strategies
Effective treatment for orthorexia involves addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of the disorder. Here are some key components of a comprehensive treatment approach:
Nutritional Rehabilitation
Working with a registered dietitian, individuals with orthorexia learn to reintroduce variety into their diets and develop a more flexible approach to eating. This may involve challenging food fears, experimenting with new foods, and practicing mindful eating.
Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often recommended for the treatment of orthorexia. CBT helps individuals identify and challenge irrational beliefs and behaviors surrounding food and body image. Other therapeutic modalities, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), may also be beneficial.
Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness techniques can help individuals with orthorexia develop a more balanced relationship with food and their bodies. Practices such as mindful eating, meditation, and yoga can promote awareness of hunger and fullness cues, reduce anxiety around food, and foster self-compassion.
Addressing Underlying Issues
Orthorexia is often driven by underlying psychological factors such as anxiety, perfectionism, or a desire for control. Therapy can help individuals explore and address these underlying issues, enabling them to develop healthier coping mechanisms and a more positive self-image.
Support Groups
Joining a support group or online community can provide individuals with orthorexia a sense of validation, understanding, and camaraderie. Connecting with others who share similar experiences can reduce feelings of isolation and shame and offer valuable support on the journey to recovery.
Take A New Direction!
At New Directions Eating Disorders Center, our intensive outpatient program offers small group sessions led by licensed clinicians specializing in eating disorders, along with nutritionist services and referrals to M.D. psychiatrists when needed.
Counseling addresses the full spectrum of orthorexia symptoms and underlying psychological, interpersonal, and cultural factors. We prioritize family involvement, offering family sessions and coordinating care with family physicians to ensure medical stability.
Join one of the best eating disorder treatment centers in California and get started today.