Ep. 35 | Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Orthorexia: A Qualitative Exploration

This is the second of our Graduate Webinar episodes where we speak to the runner-up of the Martin Kitterick Award. This award is given to a fourth-year BSc thesis judged to be of very high quality with relevant and contemporary knowledge that deserves to be shared with the wider profession. This is a recording of a live event that was held recently for PCI students and alumni. I was delighted to be joined by faculty lecturers Colm Early and Ramesh Ramsahoye for the discussion. Our guest speaker is Lynn McGovern, and her thesis is titled 'Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Orthorexia: A Qualitative Exploration'. Orthorexia is not an official diagnosis, but it is defined as an obsession with healthy eating. It can be hard to identify, as it generally does not focus on calorie intake and can take many forms. However, it is extreme and can have serious health impacts. We explore how disordered eating can present, the impact of social media, and the need to be very clear on your role in a larger team of support to work with someone with this kind of presenting issue. Lynn also gives us insight into the challenges of picking a research topic and her approach to research and writing through a lens of curiosity. Lynn McGovern is a psychotherapist and psychologist currently practicing in Naas. Her first study on orthorexia ("The experience of orthorexia from the perspective of recovered orthorexics") was published in 2021, and the material from her 2024 thesis will also be published in the academic literature. Having experienced orthorexia herself, Lynn is very passionate about this topic and would love to see it recognised as an official eating disorder. Her other areas of interest include neurodiversity, relationship issues, including domestic abuse, nervous system regulation, and chronic illness. You can connect with Lynn at www.lighthousetherapy.ie or on Instagram @lighthousetherapy_Ireland.