Eating Disorders: Differentiating Anorexia Nervosa & Orthorexia.

Differentiating eating disorders is similar to differentiating mental illness', as they can both be very difficult to distinguish from one another. With this in mind, how do we differentiate Anorexia Nervosa from Orthorexia?

First, let's start by defining Anorexia Nervosa. A disorder characterized by food restriction and/or self-starvation (usually with the intent to lose weight). Likewise, Individuals generally have a misconception of how their body looks, while simultaneously desiring to be thinner. Anorexia Nervosa, and the desire to lose weight, tend to run hand-in-hand with the fear of weight gain. The causation of eating disorders (ED's), and ED behaviors, vary greatly from person to person.

In the beginning stages of Anorexia Nervosa, physical signs and symptoms are hard to detect. However, eating behaviors and food rules often demonstrate restrictive eating patterns early on. If Anorexia progresses, more observable physical symptoms may develop, including but not limited to: dry and fragile skin and hair, amenorrhea (or loss of menstrual cycle), lanugo (or thin, fine, pale hair on unusual parts of the body).

Next, Orthorexia was termed in 1998 but is not a medically diagnosed “eating disorder”. However, the occurrences of Orthorexia continue to increase. The main difference from Anorexia, is that Orthorexia revolves around the desire and fixation of eating healthy and avoiding unhealthful foods. Like Anorexia, one with Orthorexia may drastically change their eating behaviors.

Orthorexia has some similar symptoms as Anorexia Nervosa, and they can be equally as difficult to detect early on. As stated, eating behaviors, dieting mentality, and food rules may be innocent at first, but can progress to be constant preoccupation with food. Some physical signs that may be observed with Orthorexia include, but not limited to: dry and fragile skin and hair, dysmenorrhea (disruption/changes in menstrual cycle), mood swings, lanugo, weight loss, malnutrition, fatigue, lack of focus, mood swings, and others.

In summary, Orthorexia is summarized as the obsession and fixation on the source of the food rather than the amount of food. As with any eating disorder, professional therapy for the root cause, along with weight restoration or maintenance, is crucial. Treating symptoms of the disorder is also important but will ultimately not resolve the problem. Although Orthorexia and Anorexia Nervosa are different, they can have nearly all the same negative effects on the body.