Consequences of Avoiding Food
While the medical community may still be divided on the concept of orthorexia, it is widely accepted that the effects of this condition extend beyond mere lifestyle or dietary preferences. The relentless pursuit of healthy eating that characterizes orthorexia can have detrimental effects on various aspects of an individual’s life, including relationships, personal interests, and even physical well-being. Those suffering from orthorexia often restrict their food intake to such an extent that they struggle to maintain a healthy weight. In severe cases, this can result in malnutrition, which, if left unchecked, can lead to cardiac complications or even mortality.
Orthorexia vs. Anorexia
Orthorexia nervosa and anorexia are both eating disorders that involve the restriction of one’s diet. Some experts even consider orthorexia to be a subset of anorexia due to their many similarities. Both disorders share common symptoms such as using dietary control to seek fulfillment and self-esteem, claiming to have food allergies, establishing strict rules around food consumption, and using food as a means to gain control over their lives.
However, unlike other eating disorders, orthorexia does not involve an obsession with weight. Instead, individuals with orthorexia are fixated on the health implications of their diet. While someone with anorexia may eliminate certain foods because they are perceived as fattening, someone with orthorexia would avoid those foods because they do not make them feel pure or healthy.