Shift focus from protein targets - the current health trend - and instead, savor your meals unburdened
In recent years, the high-protein diet trend has gained significant popularity, particularly among women. This trend, influenced by bodybuilders, weight-lifters, and health gurus, has led to an increased focus on protein-rich foods like cottage cheese and gourmet protein powders. Advertisements for these products are common, suggesting they be added to drinks like lattes or even incorporated into desserts.
However, a balanced and sane approach to wellness is essential, as an obsession with protein or any nutrition trend can lead to disordered eating habits. This is a concern, especially considering that women are more prone to eating disorders than men by orders of magnitude.
A study from 2017 found that 49.5% of registered dietitians were at risk for orthorexia nervosa, a condition marked by an unhealthy fixation on eating "correctly." Another study revealed that another 13% of dietitians were at risk for traditional eating disorders like anorexia, and 8% had previously received treatment for them.
Despite these alarming statistics, there is currently no direct evidence establishing a correlation between increased protein consumption, the high-protein diet trend, and the development of orthorexia nervosa specifically among dietitians.
While protein intake does influence brain neurotransmitters and cognitive alertness, as seen in ADHD-related research, this relates primarily to neurological function rather than disordered eating behavior per se. Studies on disordered eating often highlight factors like intuitive eating being protective against such behaviors, but they do not report that increased protein consumption causes or correlates with orthorexia or other eating disorders.
A 2025 study explicitly found no correlation between protein consumption and certain eating-related symptoms (e.g., PMS), suggesting that protein itself may not be a direct factor in disordered eating attitudes. Orthorexia and other eating disorders are complex mental health conditions involving neuroendocrine dysregulation, neurotransmitter imbalances, and psychological factors, rather than single macro-nutrient effects.
Many women's Instagram feeds feature high-protein content, with posts about lunchboxes and ways to consume 100 grams of protein. However, it's important to remember that counting every gram of protein or hitting arbitrary benchmarks is not necessary for a balanced diet. Eating a variety of whole foods provides enough protein. A healthy approach to protein involves consuming real, unprocessed foods like eggs, fish, beans, nuts, meat, and dairy, rather than processed powders or bars.
In conclusion, while dietitians might be at risk of disordered eating such as orthorexia due to their professional focus on food and health, there is no clear scientific link found between the recent high-protein diet trends and orthorexia development in this group based on current research. Further targeted research would be required to clarify this potential relationship. It's crucial to promote a balanced and flexible approach to wellness, enjoying food not just for its nutritional value, but also for its taste and pleasure.
- A balanced and flexible approach to health-and-wellness, which emphasizes enjoyment of food beyond its nutritional value, can help prevent disordered eating habits like orthorexia.
- The media's portrayal of high-protein diets, particularly on platforms like Instagram, can contribute to a fixation on protein consumption, potentially leading to disordered eating behaviors.
- Mental-health conditions like orthorexia are complex, involving neuroendocrine dysregulation, neurotransmitter imbalances, and psychological factors; therefore, they aren't directly associated with increased protein consumption or adherence to high-protein diets.
