This post originally appeared on OYT on July 12, 2019
Image by Wilfried Pohnke from Pixabay
By Elizabeth Meyer, RD, LRD
Healthy eating is a good thing. We can all probably agree on that. I try to make healthy food choices daily. I don’t always succeed, but the thought and effort certainly are there. I swear they are.
But is it possible to take it too far?
Turns out, it is. And there’s a name for it.
Orthorexia. Basically, it’s an obsession with nutritional quality of food. It can become an obsession for some, completely consuming them and can eventually affect their overall wellbeing. It’s not necessarily recognized as a disease, or eating disorder, but none-the-less, very concerning. It can put you at risk for malnutrition which leads to many other consequences. Still making it harder to deal with, there are no treatments developed specifically for Orthorexia.
It can lead to very serious conditions involving your heart, gastrointestinal system, as well as endocrine and neurological systems. Other things include dehydration, brittle hair and nails, anemia and it can overall make you feel ill.
Signs and symptoms to watch for:
- Increased concern about the health of ingredients in food and/or checking labels frequently
- Inability to eat a variety of foods, usually have a certain group of foods they consider “healthy” or “pure”
- Highly stressed when “safe” or “healthy” foods aren’t an option
- Unusual interest in what others are eating
- Cutting out entire food groups
- Obsessively following “healthy lifestyle” groups on social media
Now, I’m not saying if you have become a vegetarian for a “healthier lifestyle” you have Orthorexia. It’s much more complicated than that. If diet changes and ideas are getting in the way of you enjoying a dinner with friends, affecting your ability to meal plan, or you’re noticing you’re spending a lot of time thinking or possibly obsessing about food, it might be time to re-evaluate how you’re feeling about food.
In a balanced diet, all foods fit. They really do! I don’t like using the terms “healthy” and “unhealthy” for foods. It’s just a matter of trying to find a good balance. We know being overweight isn’t giving us any health benefits and we also know that food choices can lead to weight loss, gain and even maintenance.
When it comes to food, try to relax. No one is perfect. It’s not possible to eat “perfectly” because we all have different needs. Food should be enjoyable, not an extra stress to deal with in life. At the end of the day, it all comes down to balance. For me it means counting my salsa as a serving of vegetables some days and I’m okay with it.
Elizabeth Magee is a licensed registered dietitian. Her posts appear monthly on OYT.
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