5 | Orthorexia: How Our Obsession With Healthy Eating Is Making Us Unhealthy

How to: Fitness

Content Warning: In this episode we touch on the subject of eating disorders and disordered eating patterns.

Striving for nutritional perfection may seem appealing, but it can have negative consequences. In today’s episode we dive deep in to orthorexia: what it is, how we come to adopt obsessive eating behaviors, and how awareness can help us bring more moderation into our pursuit of health.

3:15 Orthorexia was first identified in 1998 and is an unhealthy obsession with eating only "clean" or "healthy" foods. It's characterized by an extreme fixation on the quality and purity of one's diet, often at the expense of overall well-being.

4:20 We talk through our personal experiences with orthorexia and the circumstances behind our own experience with taking health too far.

8:39 Orthorexia impacts our social life, mental health, and physical well-being and can lead to restrictive eating patterns, fear of certain foods, and an intense need for control over one's diet. Individuals with orthorexia tend to prioritize the perceived healthiness of their food choices rather than aiming to lose weight or achieve thinness, as is the case with other eating disorders.

11:30 Is trending towards an extreme a typical part of a wellness journey? We discuss, with nuance, if extreme behaviors are part of a fitness cycle and how we’ve experienced this in our own lives.

17:58 We talk through risk factors for orthorexia and social factors related to the prevalence of orthorexia. The “clean eating” movement plays a role.

23:55 The worst advice we’ve given in the past while in our phase of extreme behaviors. Kate shares her previous fear of grains and Michael shares his previous belief in fasted green tea.

26:00 The physical consequences of orthorexia shouldn’t be underestimated. People may begin by adopting restrictive diets or eliminating certain food groups. However, as the obsession intensifies, it can result in malnutrition, weight loss, anxiety, and even depression.

28:24 We talk through our perspective on how we can support individuals through fear around social eating while they are on their journey towards improving eating habits.

32:52 A recent study discovered that 49% of individuals following healthy eating accounts on Instagram met the criteria for orthorexia. Even higher percentages are found in athletes, women, and college students.

35:15 Orthorexia is not found in the DSM-5, but it is gaining more attention.

36:00 We talk through our current experience with social media and how we use it as inspiration or motivation. We discuss if the overwhelm of information from social media can contribute to extreme behaviors.

41:55 How can we navigate this world of orthorexia? Changing the narrative in the fitness industry is also essential. External support from a professional may be necessary, and that starts with bringing some awareness to our current approach to health and recognizing if there are extremes at play.

Due to limited space in show notes, email for references and resources: [email protected]

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🟡 Michael Ulloa: https://www.michaelulloa.com/
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🟡 Kate Lyman: https://www.katelymannutrition.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klnutrition/

Thank You for Listening to How to Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!