Orthorexia and anorexia are both eating disorders, but they differ significantly in focus and effects on mental and physical health. Orthorexia is characterized by an obsessive focus on eating foods deemed “pure” or “healthy,” while anorexia nervosa involves extreme calorie restriction due to an intense fear of gaining weight. Both conditions can have serious health consequences and often overlap with other mental health issues, making accurate diagnosis crucial. Eating disorders rank as the second most deadly mental health condition, only behind opioid addiction in terms of fatality rates.

At Laguna Shores Recovery located in Dana Point, California, we help people recognize the signs of these disorders, develop tailored treatment plans, and embark on their journey toward healing. Our comprehensive approach addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of recovery, offering clients the tools they need to regain balance and well-being.

What Is Orthorexia?

Orthorexia, or orthorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder where a person becomes obsessed with eating foods they consider “clean” or “healthy.” Unlike anorexia, orthorexia focuses more on food quality than quantity. This obsession can lead to restrictive diets, social isolation, and even malnutrition as people eliminate entire food groups deemed unhealthy.

Signs and Symptoms of Orthorexia

• Obsessive Focus on Healthy Eating: Persistent concern with the purity and quality of food.
• Avoidance of “Impure” Foods: Elimination of entire food groups deemed unhealthy.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Physical symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or a weakened immune response can result from restrictive eating patterns.
• Social Isolation: Avoiding social events involving food to maintain strict eating habits.
• Emotional Distress Over Certain Foods: Consuming foods considered “unhealthy” may lead to overwhelming feelings of shame or anxiety.
• Rigid Eating Habits: Following strict rules about food preparation or sourcing (e.g., only organic or raw).
• Judging Others’ Eating Habits: Criticizing others for their perceived “unhealthy” food choices.
• Over-researching Foods: Spending excessive time reading labels or researching ingredients.
• Physical Weakness: Muscle loss or low energy levels due to inadequate calorie intake.
• Emotional Distress if Diet is Disrupted: Extreme discomfort or panic when unable to adhere to dietary rules.

Research shows that orthorexia is often linked to perfectionism, anxiety, and a desire for control. While not yet officially recognized as a distinct eating disorder in diagnostic manuals, it is increasingly acknowledged as a serious mental health concern. Addressing orthorexia involves encouraging balanced eating habits and addressing underlying emotional issues.

What Is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is a well-recognized eating disorder where a person severely restricts their food intake due to an overwhelming fear of weight gain. This disorder affects both physical health, leading to conditions like severe weight loss, heart problems, and bone density loss, and mental health, often coexisting with depression and anxiety.

Anorexia can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, though it most commonly begins in adolescence. By the time they reach their 40s or 50s, 15% of women will develop an eating disorder, but only 27% will access treatment. The risk of suicide for someone with anorexia is 18 times higher than for those without an eating disorder. Effective treatment combines therapy, nutritional guidance, and support to address both the symptoms and the underlying causes.

Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia

• Severe Food Restriction: Eating very few calories despite feeling extremely hungry.
• Misperceived Body Image: Seeing oneself as overweight despite being dangerously underweight.
• Excessive Exercise: Compulsive workouts to burn calories, even when exhausted or injured.
• Physical Symptoms: Drastic weight loss, thinning hair, sensitivity to cold, and dry skin.
• Obsessive Weighing: Constantly checking your body weight and being overly concerned with small changes on a daily basis.
• Avoidance of Meals: Finding reasons to skip meals or eating very small portions.
• Preoccupation with Food: Constantly thinking about food, preparing elaborate meals for others without eating them, or meticulously cutting food into tiny pieces.
• Irritability or Mood Swings: Emotional changes caused by malnutrition or body image issues.
• Health Complications: Irregular or missed menstrual cycles in women, low blood pressure, or slow heart rate.
• Ignoring Hunger: Disregarding feelings of hunger, even when there are obvious physical cues.

How Eating Disorders Affect Men and Women?

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that significantly affect physical and emotional well-being, impacting people across all genders and age groups. Disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and orthorexia often develop as coping mechanisms for trauma, stress, or societal pressures. Every 52 minutes, someone dies due to complications from an eating disorder.

For women, eating disorders frequently stem from societal expectations around body image and appearance. Social media, advertising, and cultural norms often glorify thinness, leading many women to equate their self-worth with their physical appearance. Women are more likely to experience anorexia nervosa or bulimia, where calorie restriction, purging, or extreme dieting are common behaviors. In some cases, these disorders can begin as early as adolescence and persist into adulthood.

Men often experience eating disorders in different ways. While societal pressures also play a role, many men face unique triggers, such as a desire to achieve a muscular or lean physique. Men may be more likely to develop disorders like binge eating or compulsive exercise tied to performance and body image. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding eating disorders as a “women’s issue” often prevents men from seeking help, leading to delayed diagnoses and untreated symptoms. While women are more commonly affected, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 8.60%, men are also significantly impacted, with a prevalence of 4.07%.