ORTHOREXIA

What an interesting term I’ve come across today , with a slightly  (hmmm only slightly ?😏😏   )  guilty conscience !  Excited to share this new concept , that i didn’t even realize was a “condition” .    On the spectrum like most , and varies in severity .  I have yet to research more, but here's the initial scoop.  

What is orthorexia?
Orthorexia, or orthorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder that involves an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating.  Unlike other eating disorders, orthorexia mostly revolves around food quality, not quantity. Unlike people with anorexia or bulimia, those with orthorexia are rarely focused on losing weight .  Instead, they have an extreme fixation with the “purity” of their foods, as well as an obsession with the benefits of healthy eating. The medical community is beginning to recognize orthorexia, although neither the American Psychiatric Association nor the DSM-5 has officially defined the condition as an eating disorder.

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What causes orthorexia?
Although you may begin a diet simply intending to improve your health, this focus can become more extreme.   Over time, good intentions can slowly develop into full-blown orthorexia.  Research on the precise causes of orthorexia is sparse, but obsessive-compulsive tendencies and former or current eating disorders are known risk factors
Other risk factors include tendencies toward perfectionism, high anxiety, or a need for control.   Several studies also report that individuals focused on health for their career may have a higher risk of developing orthorexia.
Enthusiasm for healthy eating only transforms into orthorexia when it turns into an obsession that negatively affects everyday life, such as extreme weight loss or a refusal to eat out with friends.

Possible signs and symptoms of orthorexia

• Engaging in emotional eating.
• Self-esteem is based on eating healthy foods.
• Increasingly critical and more rigid about eating.
• Feeling as if certain foods are dangerous.
• Feeling guilt or ashamed when unable to maintain diet standards.

 
Common treatments include:

• Exposure and response prevention
• Behavior modification
• Cognitive restructuring
• Various forms of relaxation training

References : 
​Orthorexia: The unhealthy side of healthy eating
dietitiansaustralia.org.au/smart-eating-for-you/smart-eating-fast-facts/medical/orthorexia-the-unhealthy-side-of-healthy-eating/
Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes a Disorder
 www.healthline.com/nutrition/orthorexia-nervosa-101
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American physician Steve Bratman first coined the term “orthorexia” in 1997. The term is derived from “orthos,” which is Greek for “right.”  The Bratman Test for Orthorexia is a 10-question checklist that he developed .  Insightful.  

1. Do you spend more than three hours a day thinking about your diet?
2. Do you plan your meals several days ahead?
3. Is the nutritional value of your meal more important than the pleasure of eating it?
4. Has the quality of your life decreased as the quality of your diet has increased?
5. Have you become stricter with yourself lately?
6. Does your self-esteem get a boost from eating healthily?
7. Have you given up foods you used to enjoy in order to eat the ‘right’ foods
8. Does your diet make it difficult for you to eat out, distancing you from family and friends?
9. Do you feel guilty when you stray from your diet?
10. Do you feel at peace with yourself and in total control when you eat healthily?