Fifteen Eighty Four

In one of my favourite books by Haruki Miyazaki, Killing Commendatore, the protagonist emphasises that “if you want something with all your heart, you can achieve it”. I completely identify with this statement.

The first manuscript I read on Orthorexia Nervosa was by Prof Lorenzo Maria Donini et al. (2005). After reading that article, I came across Steven Bratman’s first paper (1997). The topic intrigued me, so I decided to research it further. My search led me to a scientific article that described the state of knowledge at the time on Orthorexia Nervosa. To date, this article, titled “Orthorexia Nervosa: An Eating Disorder, an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or a Disturbed Eating Habit?” (2012) is the most cited of all my papers.

I established a scientific cooperation with Prof Donini which resulted in the Polish adaptation of the ORTO-15 questionnaire (2014). This tool became widely used for assessing orthorexia nervosa during that time. A year later, at the invitation of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Polish version of the ORTO-15 questionnaire was included in the APA PsycTESTS database. In the following years, I continued my research by investigating psychological factors related to orthorexia nervosa, both in patients with eating disorders and in healthy individuals. I have had the opportunity to engage in international collaborative research, which allowed me to deepen my understanding of Orthorexia Nervosa and gain insight into various perspectives on relatively underexplored concept.

The summary of my research and exploration of this intriguing topic is Orthorexia Nervosa: Current Understanding and Perspectives, published by Cambridge University Press.

In my book, I argue that orthorexia nervosa is a pathological condition. The emphasis on extremely healthy eating habits and behaviours, which often leads to reduced food intake in the pursuit of optimal health, can negatively impact psychosocial functioning. I do not share the view that orthorexia nervosa is merely a social phenomenon or a healthy lifestyle choice. In my view, eating behaviour becomes disordered when food restriction is accompanied by obsessive thoughts and negative emotions, such as distress or guilt, which disrupt an individual’s daily life, including their relationships, social interactions, and work responsibilities.

There is no doubt that orthorexic behaviours, even if they arise from a healthy interest in food, are not health-promoting. I believe that individuals who adhere to extremely strict healthy eating patterns require support, assistance, and treatment This conviction motivated me to write this book.

If you are interested in the characteristics of orthorexia nervosa and research findings, you are invited to read the interview with professor Anna Brytek-Matera conducted at the University of Wroclaw on the occasion of the publication of the book: https://uwr.edu.pl/en/orthorexia-nervosa-when-a-healthy-diet-becomes-an-obsession/

Title: Orthorexia Nervosa

Author: Anna Brytek-Matera

ISBN: 9781009216418