“It is what is known as orthorexia, and it is most common in young adults in their mid- to late-20s, who are establishing themselves professionally,” says Najeeb Riaz, MD, Medical Director of Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center Princeton Center for Eating Disorders. “What begins as a desire to eat healthier escalates into more and more rigid, self-imposed food restrictions with negative health consequences, including low calcium levels that can lead to osteoporosis, congestive heart failure, and weight loss and malnutrition that can lead to anorexia.”
Individuals with perfectionist tendencies or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be at increased risk of developing orthorexia. “Orthorexia can begin with eliminating something like gluten or sugar from your diet, and then progress to where the diet is very, very limited to a small selection of foods that do not meet your dietary needs,” says Dr. Riaz. “Another example would be only eating foods that can be verified as being 100% organically grown, which can be difficult to confirm when it comes to every ingredient in a meal.”
In addition to the physical effects of the condition on a person, there is a social isolation aspect as well. Over time, it becomes almost impossible for someone with orthorexia to go out to eat or attend social gatherings because of concerns surrounding food.
Treatment is Available
Treating orthorexia at the Princeton Center for Eating Disorders involves the same processes as treating other eating disorders, says Dr. Riaz, and includes individual and group therapy, as well as nutrition counseling and medical treatment for any related health problems the individual may be experiencing.
Watch for These Signs |
|
|
|