| A healthy diet is a good thing to follow, but keeping to | | | | It should be noted that there has been no research |
| it can be a real test of willpower. A problem can occur | | | | completed to investigate whether orthorexia really |
| when that willpower becomes an obsession. At that | | | | does exist or not, nor have there been any studies into |
| stage it can become a condition named orthorexia. | | | | it. This has left other physicians skeptical as to its |
| Most individuals will not have heard of orthorexia, a | | | | existence, with several saying they have never seen a |
| term devised in recent years by Dr. Steven Bratman, | | | | case of it in their careers. |
| who first wrote about it in 1997, and then co-authored | | | | Others do acknowledge it, in a fashion. They see it as |
| the book 'Health Food Junkies: Orthorexia Nervosa: | | | | an eating disorder, somewhat akin to anorexia |
| Overcoming the Obsession with Healthful Eating', in | | | | nervosa, one that is related to the idea of being |
| 2001. | | | | healthy and body image. The food fixation and very |
| What he described in the book is a state where the | | | | limited range of acceptable foods is very similar to |
| sufferer spends several hours each day thinking about | | | | anorexia. Like anorexia, the condition is emotional |
| what to eat. Those who fail to eat healthy food at any | | | | rather than physical. |
| time dwell on it, and at other times focus mentally on | | | | That fits in, at least to an extent, with the line of |
| exactly what healthy foods they are allowed to | | | | thought followed by Bratman. He postulates that |
| consume. | | | | orthorexia can join with other conditions such as |
| Diet is often used by those in alternative medicine as a | | | | obsessive-compulsive disorder, but remains adamant |
| way to cure illness, by looking at food allergies and | | | | that orthorexia is a separate condition. |
| what to eliminate from the diet. This can work very | | | | Treating Orthorexia |
| effectively in some cases. In others, though, it can | | | | Since orthorexia has not been established as a |
| create an obsession over what foods are good and | | | | disease, no regimen of treatment has been established |
| allowable. | | | | for it. Some individuals do obsess about food - that |
| In some instances this can become an obsession with | | | | much is beyond doubt. There are strategies that can |
| food where individuals spend large parts of their day | | | | be undertaken to break the obsession, much as there |
| thinking about food, and suffering extreme guilt when | | | | are with other obsessive-compulsive disorders. |
| they fail to live up to the standards they have set | | | | Bratman tries to encourage patients to loosen their grip |
| themselves. Although this can be seen as a side | | | | on themselves and to enjoy a little spontaneity, |
| effect, it is a severe one, and can be viewed as an | | | | although he admits this does not happen in a single |
| illness in itself. | | | | session. Where the orthorexia has been in control for |
| Once Bratman began writing about the condition he | | | | a long period, this can prove difficult. The treatments |
| named orthorexia, he says that he received a great | | | | applied to OCD can be beneficial here. These are best |
| deal of mail from all over the country. Soon support | | | | supervised by a physician and are often combined |
| groups for orthorexia began to develop. Even though it | | | | therapies. |
| remains largely unknown in the mainstream, it is a | | | | Self-help can be effective, not just books and videos, |
| condition that certainly exists and is an indicator that, | | | | but more pro-active things like writing down the |
| although healthy eating is a good thing, it can certainly | | | | obsessive thoughts; this can help control them. In some |
| be taken too far. | | | | instances relaxation or exercise can be very beneficial. |
| What Constitutes Orthorexia? | | | | Talking therapy is another strategy that is often |
| There is a set of 10 questions to be asked of those | | | | adopted, starting with cognitive behavioral therapy. |
| who might be suffering from orthorexia to determine | | | | These are either one on one or group sessions with a |
| whether they do in fact have the condition or not. | | | | therapist, who will often suggest response prevention |
| These questions involve whether a person spends | | | | therapy or exposure. This involves confronting the |
| over three hours a day thinking about healthy food; no | | | | particular fear without resorting to the compulsive |
| longer eats foods once enjoyed in order to eat foods | | | | behavior to deal with it. Gradually the compulsion |
| that they consider to be correct, experiences feelings | | | | decreases. |
| of guilt when going off-a diet, are stricter with | | | | There are instances where obsessive compulsive |
| themselves, find the virtue of what is eaten more | | | | disorder is treated with medication. The medications |
| important than the pleasure derived from eating the | | | | are intended to restore the serotonin balance in the |
| food, feel in control when eating the right foods, plans a | | | | brain, and are known as selective serotonin re-uptake |
| menu a day ahead, feels the quality of life has been | | | | inhibitors (SSRI). They are often used in the treatment |
| lowered through eating only healthier food, find | | | | of depression and lower anxiety feelings. Another |
| self-esteem increased by healthy eating, looks down | | | | option for treatment is the use of clomipramine. With |
| on others who do not follow a healthy eating diet, and | | | | the SSRIs it can require a full year of medication for |
| find it almost impossible to eat anywhere but at home, | | | | the symptoms to abate fully, and often there is no |
| causing distance to develop between themselves and | | | | improvement for the first three months. Some |
| family and friends. | | | | individuals don't react well to SSRIs, and in that case |
| Where a person exhibits two or three of these | | | | the physician will try other drugs. |
| behavior traits, he or she may be suffering from a mild | | | | Most of those suffering from orthorexia or OCD will |
| case of orthorexia, which is more severe if four or | | | | not require hospitalization unless there are other |
| more conditions apply. In the instance where the | | | | problems affecting mental health. A physician will |
| person complies with all the situations, then the | | | | assess and make a decision on this, but the vast |
| orthorexia is a full-blown obsession. | | | | majority of individuals will be treated as outpatients. |