A power supply healthy and controlled can lead to improvements and benefits for general health and well-being; however, for some people, attention to nutrition can become an obsession and turn into an eating disorder in its own right.
Index
What is orthorexia?
Orthorexia, or orthorexia nervosa, is a eating disorder which implies an unhealthy obsession with nutrition.
Unlike other eating disorders, orthorexia revolves around the quality of food, not quantity; unlike anorexia and bulimia, people with orthorexia rarely focus on weight loss.
The "fixation" of subjects with this disorder is the "purity ”of food and an obsession with benefits of a healthy diet.
The medical community is starting to give weight to this condition, although neither the American Psychiatric Association nor the DSM-5 have officially called it an eating disorder.
Causes of orthorexia
Although all diets start with the intention of improving one's health, this goal can escalate and become extreme; over time, good habits can evolve into full-blown orthorexia.
Research on the precise causes of orthorexia is still sparse, but obsessive-compulsive tendencies and other eating disorders, previous or current, are known risk factors.
Other risk factors include: tendencies to perfectionism, high anxiety and the need for control. Several studies also report that health and career focused people may have a higher risk of developing orthorexia.
The level of risk may also depend on age, sex, educational level and socio-economic status.
Diagnosis
To understand the difference between healthy eating and orthorexia, these diagnostic criteria have been identified:
Obsessive focus on healthy eating: involves exaggerated emotional distress related to food choices, which includes:
- compulsive behaviors and thoughts for food choices;
- self-imposed anxiety: breaking dietary rules causes anxiety, shame and negative physical sensations;
- severe restrictions: elimination of entire food groups and fasts;
Behavior that disrupts everyday life: Compulsive behavior that prevents normal daily functioning and can occur in the following ways:
- medical problems: malnutrition and / or severe weight loss;
- interruption of lifestyle;
- emotional dependence: self-image and self-esteem depend excessively on compliance with self-imposed dietary rules.
How common is orthorexia?
It can be difficult to distinguish between orthorexia and attention to a healthy diet, for this reason, it is difficult to understand how widespread this disorder is actually.
The focus on healthy eating evolves into orthorexia when it turns into an obsession that negatively affects everyday life, such as extreme weight loss or refusal to eat out with friends.
Consequences on health
Orthorexia can cause the following negative health effects:
- physical effectsThis condition is likely to lead to medical complications similar to those caused by other eating disorders such as malnutrition, anemia, rapid heart rate, digestive problems, hormonal changes, metabolic acidosis and impaired bone health;
- psychological effects: people with orthorexia can experience anxiety, guilt and frustration when eating habits are interrupted; they also spend a great deal of time researching "clean" foods, weighing foods and planning future meals. Studies reveal that people with orthorexia perform worse tasks that require flexible problem-solving and attention-maintenance skills;
- social effects: rigid eating patterns can make it difficult to participate in activities that revolve around food; moreover, intrusive thoughts related to food and the tendency to consider one's habits as superior can complicate interactions, leading to social isolation.
The first step for overcoming orthorexia is recognizing it; if you are able to recognize any of these symptoms listed, speak to your doctor who will certainly be able to refer you to a dietician and a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders.
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