When Healthy Eating Goes Too Far - The Normalisation of Disordered Eating

As a nutrition professional, I find the concept of healthy eating both interesting and complicated. 

If you ask 10 different people for their idea of the perfect diet, they will give you 10 different answers. For some, it’s genuinely finding their version of what works best for their mind, body and lifestyle. For others, it can be something that becomes rigid and rooted in anxiety; which is where things can start to become concerning. 

The pursuit of wellness is something that can start as harmless and gradually cascade into something more sinister. For a lot of people, 'going on a health kick' often leads to partaking in diet and exercise regimes that are unsustainable and it can end up taking away from their lives and day-to-day nourishment rather than adding anything to it.

Red flags to spot in yours and other peoples wellness pursuits or diets:

• Always thinking about food (it really shouldn't be on your mind that much)

• Limiting or removing specific foods or food groups to be 'healthier' with lacking evidence

• Worrying about how a meal might be prepped when you don't do it yourself

• A loud critical voice when you opt for a food you wouldn't normally

• Logging, tracking or calculating everything you eat

• Experiencing a lot of anxiety when you're unable to log, track or calculate everything you eat

• Rigidity around your eating habits and thoughts of foods

• Linking your self worth to the quality of your diet or being 'the fit healthy friend'

• Eating something you deem 'unhealthy' and dwelling on it for days afterwards until it happens again

• Exercising when you're injured or you know you need rest

Context is always needed and everyone is unique

Not every will feel good eating the same diet and there are specific health conditions that will need different approaches, however, navigating the two can be a slippery slope.

Orthorexia, not currently a diagnosable eating disorder, is the unhealthy obsession with 'pure' or 'clean' foods. The traits are also often praised making it harder for those experiencing it to walk away from their disordered patterns. Restricting certain food groups, avoiding processed foods, or following strict food rules is often seen as virtuous. But when these behaviours start to negatively impact mental health, social life, or physical wellbeing, they’re no longer healthy.

Some may read this and think orthorexia almost sounds virtuous or like something to aim towards, but in my experience, it is a barrier to living a full and meaningful life. Those who experince this can shut themselves off from their loved ones to live more 'optimally', forgetting that fostering nurturing relationships and community living much longer lives. Physical health can also often be undiscussed or forgotten about when discussing eating disorders and disordered eating which can include problems with digestion, negative effects on hormonal and metabolic health, lowered tolerance to stress and an overall reduction in quality of life.

Bottom line:

There will be a way of eating that feels good to you and you should be able to to trust yourself in finding that, however, if it's rooted in restriction and lacks ability to be spontaneous, it is okay to reach out for support and vocalise that things might not be okay.

You're welcome to reach out if you feel this would be something you think you need some help with x