Orthorexia Nervosa Lidia Chavez

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Term “Orthorexia” coined by Steven Bratman

Not an officially recognized disorder Similar to other eating disorders such as Anorexia & Bulimia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa Obsess about their weight and the food they eat. Attempt to maintain a weight that's far below normal for their age and height. To prevent weight gain or to continue losing weight, they may starve themselves or exercise excessively.

Bulimia Nervosa Serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. May secretly binge — eating large amounts of food — and then purge, trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. Bulimia can be categorized in two ways: –Purging bulimia. –Nonpurging bulimia.

Those with Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa obsess about –calories –weight While Orthorexics obsess about healthy eating not about being “thin” and losing weight

Motivated by health Underlying compulsion for.. –Complete control to escape from fears –Improving self-esteem –Searching for spirituality through food –Using food to create an identity

Orthorexics not only rigidly categorize foods as healthy or unhealthy, they also identify with those foods. If they eat healthy foods, they see themselves as good If they eat unacceptable foods they see themselves as bad-

SO WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL???

The diet of the Orthorexic can be unhealthy, with the nutritional problems dependent on the specific diet the person has imposed upon him or herself.

Especially at risk for nutritional deficiencies because they tend to increasingly tighten their diets, shunning specific foods to whole food groups. Though the typical Orthorexic is not solely on a quest for weight loss, stringent food restrictions can lead to malnourishment and emaciation

As to any other type of obsession, Orthorexia does have some sort of treatment to end it. Society pushes healthy eating and thinness, so it is easy for many to not realize how problematic this behavior can become.

Treatment First, the Orthorexic must admit there is a problem Then identify what caused the obsession They must also become flexible and less dogmatic with their eating.