Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an obsession with consuming only healthy foods. The orthorexic person intensely seeks a perfect diet.
The term is derived from the Greek words orexsis "appetite" and orthos "right".
The main cause of orthorexia is the search for a perfect body and the standards of beauty imposed by society. Furthermore, the person believes that through this diet he will be healthy and will prevent disease.
Symptoms
The first signs of orthorexia include the constant search for a healthy diet and concern in choosing food.
Therefore, it is common for a person to spend a lot of time on research, reading food labels and choosing what to eat.
The main symptoms of orthorexia are:
- Refusal for processed foods;
- Excessive focus on following a healthy diet;
- Concern about the origin and preparation of food;
- Removal from social life;
- Avoid meals outside the home;
- Exclusion of some types of food from the diet: meat, sugars and fats;
- Feeling of guilt and sadness when consuming some food outside the diet;
- Concern with the nutritional information of the food.
In addition, orthorexia can result in reduced ability to concentrate, anemia, weight loss and social isolation.
Learn more about Eating Disorders.
Treatment
Treatment of orthorexia should be performed by health professionals. The monitoring of doctors, nutritionists and psychologists is essential.
People with orthorexia must understand that a healthy diet is an ally of health. However, the excessive concern with food and the exclusion of some nutrients of food can be harmful and have serious consequences for health.
Orthorexia and Vigorexia
Orthorexia and vigorexy are two types of eating disorders. However, while in orthorexia there is an excessive preoccupation with food, in vigorexia the obsession is for a slim and muscular body.
A person with vigorexia has a distorted view of their appearance. He believes that he is extremely thin, even though he is muscular.
Therefore, it adopts a routine of intense physical exercises and a diet rich in proteins.
Read too:
- Healthy eating
- bulimia
- malnutrition
