A different form of eating disorder, orthorexia nervosa, is on the rise due to the impact of social media. It involves a fixation on “clean living” which can quickly spiral into full-blown anorexia if not controlled.
Have you noticed how social media has become increasingly dominated by so-called influencers? They are usually young, beautiful, and often impossibly fit, and they share their transformative secrets for a better, longer life. These influencers have thousands, sometimes millions, of adoring fans whose obsession with voyeurism and vanity is only satisfied by an endless stream of filtered glamorous photos. It’s not always fun, though sometimes the health advice that is dished out by the influencers and a revealing selfie is proven to be so unhealthy that it’s making people sick, and it’s such a concern for doctors that it’s now a recognized medical condition.
What you need to know about orthorexia:
Orthorexia, also referred to as orthorexia nervosa, is an emerging eating sickness characterized by a bad obsession with healthy eating. Unlike conventional eating problems like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, which focus more often than not on calorie limits and weight loss, orthorexia puts more emphasis on the quality of the food than the quantity of intake.
Here are some key characteristics to look out for in orthorexia:
1. Extreme focus on “clean” or “pure” eating: Individuals with orthorexia regularly have inflexible and restrictive rules regarding the sorts of food they accept, whether it is healthy or unhealthy. These rules can include eliminating certain food groups, meticulously studying food ingredients, and avoiding anything perceived as processed or impure
2. Intense anxiety and distress around food choices: Deviating from their nutritional regulations can motivate excessive tension, guilt, and shame, leading to social isolation and decreased quality of life.
3. Compulsive habits and behaviors: Individuals with orthorexia may interact with habits and behaviors associated with food preparation, controlled eating, and meal timing. This can become all-consuming and interfere with their day-to-day activities.
4. Nutritional deficiencies and bodily health dangers: The restrictive nature of orthorexia can cause dietary deficiencies and fitness troubles like malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, and digestive problems.
5. Mental health effect: Orthorexia can extensively affect mental health, contributing to depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive sickness (OCD).
Causes and risk factors:
The exact causes of orthorexia are complex and are not fully understood, but several factors can contribute to its development, such as:
Psychological factors:
1. Perfectionism: A relentless pursuit of flawlessness and an inclination to set unreasonably high standards for oneself, which includes diet, can be risk factors for orthorexia.
2. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive tendencies: People with anxiety disorders or OCD may be more prone to growing fixations and habits around meals and ingesting, which can spiral into orthorexia.
3. Negative frame picture: Dissatisfaction with one’s body and a preoccupation with achieving an idealized physique can lead to restrictive eating styles and the wrong notion of purity and cleanliness in food choices.
4. Low self-esteem: Feeling insufficient or unworthy can force individuals to seek validation via strict adherence to a perceived healthy diet and food plan, even if it will harm their health.
Social and cultural factors:
1. Prevalence of diet culture: The universal societal emphasis on being thin and healthy eating can create an environment wherein orthorexia prospers. Constant exposure to unrealistic beauty standards and conflicting nutritional recommendations can fuel tension and confusion about meal choices.
2. Influence of social media: The increase of fitness and health influencers on social media systems can expose individuals to idealized versions of healthy eating, doubtlessly triggering bad comparisons and driving people to more restrictive tendencies.
3. Personal reviews: Past reviews with weight-reduction plans, weight fluctuations, or maybe publicity about consumption issues in others can boost the chance of developing orthorexia.
Recovery and treatment:
Recovery from orthorexia, an eating disorder centered on obsessively pursuing the “purest” and “healthiest” diet, is possible with a multi-faceted approach.
Here is an overview of treatment options:
1. Therapy:
a. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This therapy facilitates becoming aware of unhealthy food lifestyles surrounding meals and nutrition, promoting a more balanced and flexible approach to eating.
b. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): DBT teaches capabilities for dealing with emotional misery and urges, fostering self-acceptance and mindfulness, which may be critical in orthorexia recuperation.
c. Family remedy: This includes a circle of relatives in the remedy, which may be useful as they can offer aid and expertise while getting to know how to interact with their loved ones in a manner that promotes restoration.
2. Nutritional counselling:
a. Registered dietitians (RDs): RDs can create customized meal plans that make sure adequate nutrients are taken while step-by-step reintroducing the foods they thought previously were unhealthy foods and assisting in rebuilding a healthy relationship with food.
b. Intuitive eating: This technique specializes in reconnecting with inner hunger and fullness cues, fostering body acceptance and an extra flexible and enjoyable relationship with food.
3. Support groups:
Connecting with others who understand the challenges of orthorexia may be useful. Support agencies offer a safe space to share experiences, receive encouragement, and learn from each other’s coping mechanisms.
4. Additional supportive measures:
a. Addressing underlying mental health situations: If a person is suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions contributing to orthorexia, treating them simultaneously can be very useful for a successful restoration.
b. Building a strong support system: Surrounding yourself with supportive and informative friends and family can provide useful emotional encouragement and sensible help during healing.
c. Self-care: Prioritizing activities that promote relaxation and strain control, which includes exercise, yoga, or meditation, can be vital for coping with the emotional challenges of orthorexia recuperation.
Remember, healing from orthorexia is a journey; it’s no longer a destination. There may be setbacks along the way, but with persistence, support, and the right remedy plan, it’s possible to increase a healthy and balanced relationship with food and experience a fulfilling lifestyle.