Obsessive-related eating disorder

As food becomes more and more industrialized, suspicions about contaminated food also increase. This is the cause of eating disorders in people with obsessions. More seriously, the patient's self-esteem leads to depression.

Orthorexia or orthorexia nervosa (ON) is another name for an obsessive eating disorder named by American physician Steve Bratman in 1997. Unlike other eating disorders, people suffer from this disorder. often show anorexia by obsessing about the quality of food, they also rarely focus on weight loss. They are obsessed with clean foods and the benefits of healthy eating.
The medical community has recognized ON as an eating disorder, while the American Psychiatric Association and the DSM-5 have yet to officially acknowledge it.

Although starting a diet is simply meant to improve health, focusing on it excessively can lead to negative thoughts. Over time, thoughts that you think are good for a strong cold diet slowly become obsessive, causing phobia-related eating disorders.
Currently, there is still very little research interested in understanding the exact causes of the disease. Obsessive-compulsive tendencies and eating disorders are known risk factors. Obsessions can occur after a psychological trauma related to illness or eating, very common in people with frequent anxiety, causing eating disorders due to depression. Other factors include a tendency to perfectionism, high anxiety, or a preference for control.
Some studies also report that individuals who focus on health for their careers may have a higher risk of orthorexia. Common in health care workers, opera singers, ballet dancers, symphony orchestra musicians, and athletes. Risk may also depend on age, sex, education, and socioeconomic status, but more research is needed before conclusions can be drawn.

To distinguish healthy eating from orthorexia more clearly, researchers Bratman and Dunn recently proposed diagnostic criteria divided into two parts as follows:

The first is that there are manifestations of phobias, which are evident in the fact that the patient is too careful in choosing food. Specifically:
Behavior or thought: Acting on an imposed thought. Those are the thoughts that the patient considers the optimal choice for a healthy diet. Anxiety: Breaking a self-imposed diet causes anxiety, shame, fear of illness, feelings of unclean food, or other negative feelings. Limit overeating: The pickiness escalates over time and becomes severe when the person eliminates all foods from the diet and adds detergents, fasting, or both.

Next is compulsive behavior, which prevents you from following normal daily activities. This can cause:
Medical problems: Malnutrition, severe weight loss, etc. Lifestyle disruption: Personal, community or academic difficulties due to obsessions in thinking or behavior that may cause lifestyle disruption. Emotional dependence: Body image, self-worth, identity, or satisfaction are overly dependent on adherence to self-imposed dietary rules.

The negative health effects associated with orthorexia usually fall into one of three categories:

Although research on orthorexia is limited, it has the potential to lead to many of the same medical complications as other eating disorders.
For example, deficiencies in essential nutrients caused by dietary restrictions can lead to malnutrition, anemia, or an abnormally slow heart rate. Severe malnutrition can lead to digestive problems, electrolyte and hormonal imbalances, metabolic acidosis, and weakened bones.
These physical complications can be life-threatening and should not be underestimated.

People with orthorexia can experience overwhelming feelings of frustration when their food-related habits are disrupted. It can be a sign of depression if not detected and treated early.
Furthermore, breaking self-imposed dietary rules can induce guilt, disgust, or compulsion to put more at ease through the actions of washing down foods, limiting use them.
In addition, the sick person spends a great deal of time thoroughly checking that certain foods are clean enough. These could be concerns about pesticides exposure to fruits and vegetables, hormone-fortified milk, and artificial flavors or preservatives.
In addition to meals, they can also spend extra time researching, cataloging, weighing and measuring food, or planning future meals. Recent research reports that being constantly preoccupied with food and health is linked to weaker working memory.
Furthermore, individuals living with orthorexia are less likely to perform well on tasks that require flexible problem-solving skills. They are also less able to maintain focus on their surroundings, including people.

Individuals with orthorexia do not want to give up obsessive thoughts about food. They often follow strict, self-imposed rules that dictate which foods can be combined when eaten at specific times of the day. Such rigid eating patterns can make it difficult to participate in social activities that revolve around food, such as dinner parties or eating out.
In addition, constant thoughts about food and habits in overrepresented eating choices can further complicate social interactions. This can lead to social isolation, which is common in people diagnosed with orthorexia.

Treatments for most types of eating disorders involve:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Patients are corrected for emotions, negative thoughts related to food and eating habits Drink through a psychotherapist. Family-based therapy: A psychological approach directed at parents and children, if the family has children with eating disorders. Thereby, helping to improve the condition of the disease and limit possible complications. Medications: There are no proven effective medications for eating disorders. If you have an anxiety disorder at the same time, the following medications may be prescribed: Sedatives such as alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan), which may pose a dependency risk Serotonin reuptake inhibitors selective therapy (SSRI), including escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) Support groups: Support groups will help you connect with like-minded individuals. They can provide support and motivation for you. Inpatient Facility: Some individuals may check into an inpatient facility where they can receive ongoing medical care and mental health support. Nutrition counseling: A dietitian can help guide you through eating plans that help you feel better. Eating disorders related to obsessions can have a very negative impact on the work, study, and daily life of the sufferer. Therefore, improving the symptoms of the disease is a necessity.

In order to improve the quality of examination and treatment services, Vinmec International General Hospital has put a system of modern facilities and standard equipment into operation for medical examination and treatment processes. Especially at Vinmec, there is always a team of doctors and nurses ready to listen, advise and treat diseases as well as advise on nutrition and good food for children, adults and the elderly.

If you have a need for consultation and examination at the Hospitals of the National Health System, please book an appointment on the website for service.

References: webmd.com, healthline.com