When most people think of obsessive behaviour around food, they think of the classic “food addiction” kind of person, who craves and/or gorges themselves on unhealthy treats, or an “emotional eater” who eats to feel better about themselves or their lives, to distract themselves from their other issues, or simply because they’re bored. Sometimes, these behaviours can lead to eating disorders like bulimia as people punish themselves for their indulgence. These are real problems, and take work to overcome. (If any of that sounds like you, we can help, or at least point you in the right direction – Contact Us to start the discussion)

Today, though, I want to talk about the other end of the spectrum, which is at least as damaging to your mental and emotional well-being, and often comes about when someone has worked their way through one or more of those classic food addiction or emotional eating issues, or has been a chronic dieter. While eating healthier overall is an admirable goal, constantly worrying about “eating clean” or berating yourself for not being restrictive enough or “perfect” at sticking with a better diet is very unhealthy. In fact, it has its own disorder – orthorexia.