Perfectionism can sometimes be mischaracterized as a good thing. After all, what’s wrong with expecting the best from yourself and others?
Except, perfectionism isn’t about expecting the best. It’s about, quite literally, expecting perfection. Anything less than perfection can make you feel like a failure and might even contribute to other issues like anxiety or depression.
Perfectionists tend to want to do everything in their lives as “correctly” as possible — but does that include eating?
What Is Orthorexia
Orthorexia is a condition in which someone obsesses over eating healthy foods. They tend to avoid any foods they consider to be harmful, including “junk food” or anything that could possibly be called unhealthy.
The term “orthorexia” comes from Greek terminology. When translated correctly, it means “correct diet.” So, you can understand why a perfectionist might be tempted to fall into the trap of orthorexia if they consider it to be the “right” thing to do.
But are they actually more at risk? Several studies suggest they are since orthorexia can essentially be considered a pursuit of the perfect diet.
The Problem with Perfectionism and Disordered Eating
Perfectionism is considered a personality trait. It causes people to have extremely high — often unrealistic — standards of themselves and others. Any flaws in your decisions can make you feel like a failure and can trigger issues like low self-esteem. Unfortunately, many people with perfectionism also have a poor sense of self-worth.
Eating is something everyone can control. So, perfectionists are often at a greater risk of abusing their eating habits to achieve a sense of flawlessness. Any type of disordered eating, including orthorexia, can be dangerous.
There’s obviously nothing wrong with maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding junk food as often as possible. But, that’s also a mischaracterization of orthorexia. The condition takes healthy eating to extremes. People who fall into it are often less concerned with taking care of themselves and more concerned with doing something that appears “perfect.”
What Are the Risks?
On the surface, orthorexia might not seem as harmful as other types of disordered eating, like anorexia. But, any type of disordered eating can come with long-term consequences.
Some of the risks of orthorexia include malnourishment and poor quality of life. When you become obsessed with only eating healthy foods, you might not be giving your body enough calories and fat. Yes, some fat is needed for your body to function properly!
Even if you’re able to maintain your physical health, orthorexia can take a toll on your mental well-being. You might not be able to go out and enjoy a meal with friends, and you can become so obsessed with controlling what you eat that you don’t find enjoyment in everyday meals anymore. They become something to stress over instead of something to find comfort in.
If you’re in a situation where something you don’t think is healthy is offered, you might even start to experience extreme anxiety, or consider yourself a failure if you eat it.
What Can You Do?
There’s nothing wrong with having high standards for yourself. There’s also nothing wrong with wanting to eat healthy foods and take care of your body. But, orthorexia is an example of disordered eating, often brought on by the extreme desire to be perfect.
If you consider yourself a perfectionist and it’s starting to impact your dietary habits, it’s time to reach out for the help you deserve before it takes a toll on your health. Working with a therapist can help you manage your perfectionist traits while rebuilding a healthy relationship with food and nutrition. Contact me today for more information or to set up an appointment.
