Orthorexia Nervosa

History  First used by Steven Bratman  Believed to be a mental disorder  From the Greek orthos correct or right  Orexis appetite

History Cont.  Not a formal medical condition  Number of doctors feel it is a health phenomenon

What is Orthrexia Nervosa?  An obsession with healthy eating  Avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthy  Become fixated on food quality and purity

Cont.  Compulsive obsession that takes control of lives  Causes them to view their own worth through the food they eat  They religiously follow certain food rules

Who is Mostly Affected  Women  Between the ages of  Those with low s self -esteem

How does someone get it  Orthorexia appears to be motivated by health and well being  Underlining Conditions  Wanting to be thin  Improving self-esteem  Searching for spirituality through food  Using food to create an identity

Signs and Symptoms  1)Planning meals several days in advance  2)Feeling extremely guilty when you break your diet  3)Always assessing the nutritional value of foods  4)Unable to enjoy social activities  5)Spending more than 3 hours a day thinking about your diet

Signs and Symptoms Cont.  6)Happier when you eat correctly  7)Looking down on people who have no control over  8)Strictly controlling yourself  9)No longer eating your favorite foods

Risks/Complications of Orthorexia Nervosa  Physical risks are very few  Most risks and complications are social and emotional  Loneliness  Spending too much time buying and planning out meals  Eating alone, isolation  Poor relationship

Treatment  Not a condition your doctor will diagnose  Education about proper nutrition is a must  Counseling is highly recommended  It will help increase self-esteem and set more realistic expectations.

Treatment Cont.  Must admit there is a problem  Identify what caused the obsession.  Become more flexible and less strict with their eating habits

Foods and diets  Variety is key to a healthy diet  Eating meat is beneficial for b12 vitamins  Avoid Foods high with hormones

Recovery  The recovered orthorexic will still eat healthfully  There will be a different understanding of what healthy eating is  They will find that while food is important, it is one small aspect of life

So What’s The Big Deal?  The diet of the orthorexic can actually be unhealthy  The nutritional problems dependent on the specific diet  An orthorexic may be socially isolated  Focusing their day on the food

Compared to other Eating disorders  Sufferers of orthorexia and anorexia show similarities  Desire to achieve control over their lives through control of food intake  Seeking self-esteem fulfillment through controlling food intake  Citing undiagnosed food allergies as rationale for avoiding

Is it considered an eating disorder  Society pushes healthy eating and thinness  So it is easy for many to not realize how problematic this behavior can become.  Not an accepted Medical condition viewed as a trend

Criticism Doesn’t take into account sensitivities to foods The diagnoses risks personal taste and preferences Not perceived as formal medical condition

Online Help for Orthorexia   disorder/orthorexiawww.timberlineknolls.com/eating- disorder/orthorexia

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