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Home Conditions Orthorexia Nervosa. What is Orthorexia Nervosa? Causes of Anorexia Past history of trauma Unhealthy relationships Unresolved personal conflicts Low self-esteem Perfectionist personality Long history of dieting Substance abuse In males, decreased testosterone Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, bloating or nausea Electrolyte abnormalities, such as low blood potassium, sodium and chloride Kidney problems Obsession with exercise.

Treatment for Orthorexia Nervosa The psychotherapy approaches offered in eating disorder treatment can allow an individual to acknowledge the underlying feelings and triggers associated with their orthorexia nervosa and find strategies to develop healthy coping mechanisms and ways to live in reality without striving for perfection.

FIND A CENTER. In males, decreased testosterone Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, bloating or nausea Electrolyte abnormalities, such as low blood potassium, sodium and chloride Kidney problems Obsession with exercise. Preferred In-Network Provider for All Major Health Insurance.

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When Healthy Eating Becomes an Obsession: the Signs and Symptoms of Orthorexia. Beaumont Health. view all stories. Related Stories Plan to rake? How the Delta Variant Changed the COVID Conversation As COVID cases and hospitalizations rise across much of the country, Delta has quickly changed the pandemic conv Get the Most Out of Your Wellness Visit Check out these tips for getting the most out of that time with your doctor.

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What is Orthorexia Nervosa? Causes of Anorexia Past history of trauma Unhealthy relationships Unresolved personal conflicts Low self-esteem Perfectionist personality Long history of dieting Substance abuse In males, decreased testosterone Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, bloating or nausea Electrolyte abnormalities, such as low blood potassium, sodium and chloride Kidney problems Obsession with exercise.

Treatment for Orthorexia Nervosa The psychotherapy approaches offered in eating disorder treatment can allow an individual to acknowledge the underlying feelings and triggers associated with their orthorexia nervosa and find strategies to develop healthy coping mechanisms and ways to live in reality without striving for perfection.

FIND A CENTER. In males, decreased testosterone Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, bloating or nausea Electrolyte abnormalities, such as low blood potassium, sodium and chloride Kidney problems Obsession with exercise.

Preferred In-Network Provider for All Major Health Insurance. FIND HELP TODAY CALL Taking an existing theory about healthy eating and adapting it with additional beliefs of their own.

Poor concentration. Judgment about the eating habits of others. Obsession with healthy or supposedly healthy diet. Psychological signs Obsession with healthy or supposedly healthy diet.

Feelings of anxiety, guilt, or uncleanliness over eating food they regard as unhealthy. Low mood or depression. Physical signs If someone with orthorexia is following a diet that cuts out important food groups or nutrients, this could lead to malnutrition, with signs such as: Weight loss.

Feeling weaker. Taking a long time to recover from illness. Feeling cold. What if I told you that for some people—those who take the idea of healthy eating to an extreme—such a lifestyle can lead to a borderline form of eating disorder?

Malnutrition can result and, sometimes, heart issues and other problems associated with malnutrition may arise.

The term Orthorexia Nervosa is not officially recognized as an eating disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DAM-5 or by the American Psychiatric Association.

Much research has been done on orthorexia, but the classification and definition of this condition is still being debated. Physicians and mental health professionals may describe individuals living with orthorexia as possessing an unhealthy obsession with the quality of foods they consume but guidance and tools for diagnosing and treating the condition have not been standardized.

Orthorexia nervosa also differs from more widely known and recognized eating disorders, such as Bulimia nervosa and Anorexia nervosa , that are characterized more by an unhealthy fixation on the amount of food consumed as well as weight and body image, than the condition or source of food eaten.

But researchers have found that those who suffer from orthorexia share many of the same psychological and behavioral traits with those who suffer from other eating disorders. Those who suffer from orthorexia nervosa are fueled by the desire to consume pure, healthy foods, obsessing over maintaining a perfect diet rather than an ideal weight.

Someone with orthorexia may refuse to eat any food that contains anything they consider to be unhealthy or impure, such as artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, fat, sugar, or salt, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, animal or dairy products.

While this can be a normal approach to food for some people, if you are suffering from orthorexia your attitude and behavior toward eating a clean diet is obsessive and exaggerated. You may:. Have obsessive thoughts over the effects of the food you eat on medical conditions, such as asthma, anxiety, allergies, or digestive disorders and including conditions that have not been diagnosed.

Severely restrict the types of food you eat because you deem so many foods acceptable to your diet. Use significant amounts of probiotics, herbal remedies, and other supplements thought to have healthy effects on the body.

have irrational concerns about preparation of foods, relating to food washing techniques and sterilization of utensils. Regular advanced meal planning, feelings of guilt and displeasure when meals are not planned in advance.

Published online May 20, Bratman, SA, Setnick J, Mellowspring A. Orthorexia comes of age: Past, present and future of the most controversial eating disorder.

Presentation at IAEDP Symposium; Koven NS, Abry AW. The clinical basis of orthorexia nervosa: Emerging perspectives. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. Fidan T, Ertekin V, Işikay S, Kirpinar I. Prevalence of orthorexia among medical students in Erzurum, Turkey.

Compr Psychiatry. Bratman, Steven A. Orthorexia: An update. Moroze RM, Dunn TM, Craig holland J, Yager J, Weintraub P. Microthinking about micronutrients: A case of transition from obsessions about healthy eating to near-fatal "orthorexia nervosa" and proposed diagnostic criteria.

Wilson B. Why we fell for clean eating. The Guardian. By Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, CEDS Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, is a certified eating disorders expert and clinical psychologist who provides cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Use limited data to select advertising.

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Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, CEDS. Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, is a certified eating disorders expert and clinical psychologist who provides cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Learn about our editorial process.

Learn more. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research.

Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS. Learn about our Medical Review Board. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is Orthorexia Nervosa? Orthorexia Focus on health Does not hide their behavior Typically do not skip meals May resist treatments not perceived as healthy.

Anorexia Focus on weight loss Shame, guilt, and attempts to hide their behavior Skip meals and avoid eating May resist treatments for fear of gaining weight. Orthorexia Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF.

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S Fidan T, Ertekin V, Işikay S, Kirpinar I. See Our Editorial Process. Meet Our Review Board. Share Feedback. Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback! Severely restrict the types of food you eat because you deem so many foods acceptable to your diet. Use significant amounts of probiotics, herbal remedies, and other supplements thought to have healthy effects on the body.

have irrational concerns about preparation of foods, relating to food washing techniques and sterilization of utensils. Regular advanced meal planning, feelings of guilt and displeasure when meals are not planned in advance.

Having critical, judgmental thoughts of others who do not follow healthy, pure eating plans. Avoidance of eating food away from home or not prepared in your home kitchen, because you will not be able to comply easily with your healthy eating plan. Creating distance between friends and family who do not share the same beliefs you have about food.

When compulsive behaviors and mental preoccupations with healthy eating start to impair your quality of life, you may end up suffering from severe weight loss, malnutrition, or some other type of medical condition based on severe diet restrictions.

In addition, orthorexia may cause problems in your social, academic, or work life. If you are suffering from orthorexia, you may also suffer from negative self-worth, negative body image, and become obsessively dependent on your healthy eating lifestyle to the point of social isolation.

If you recognize signs or symptoms of orthorexia nervosa in yourself, consider the following questions:. Do you ever wish you could stop thinking so much about food and spend more time thinking about your loved ones? Are you constantly questioning food and considering how foods are unhealthy for you?

Does it seem physically impossible to eat a meal prepared by someone other than yourself? If you answered yes to several or all of these questions, speak with a doctor about your concerns. You can start with your primary care physician or mental health care provider, if you have one, who can then refer you to a specialist, if necessary.

There is no official treatment designed specifically for someone suffering from orthorexia but according to the National Eating Disorders Association, mental health care professionals often treat the condition similarly to anorexia or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Psychotherapy can help you change their obsessive thought patterns about food and at the same time, treat any co-existing mental health conditions, such as depression, panic disorders, and stress and anxiety disorders. Regular sessions with your therapist will allow for reassessments and treatment plan changes, as needed.

Updated May 7, By The Editors of Psycom. Photo: Unsplash, Maja Petric. When Eating Is Problematic. Self-Test for Orthorexia.