The term ‘Orthorexia’ was first coined in 1997 by Dr. Steven Bratman. The combination of the Greek words ‘orthos’ meaning correct or right and ‘orexis’ meaning appetite gives the lose definition of correct eating; prior to coining the term Bratman (2007) previously referred to Orthorexia as “righteous eating”. Predominantly, the primary focus is eating healthy food. In addition to healthy eating, Battaglia purports that orthorexics “obsess” over the quality of the food they eat more than the quantity.
Not uncommon to many ‘diet plans’, the orthorexic places high importance on large quantities of fruit and vegetables in the eating plan, but often will fixate on eliminating what they deem ‘bad’ foods; some sufferers trying to “completely eliminate fat, sodium and carbohydrates” from their diet (www.waldenbehaviouralcare.com). Dr Bratman affectionately refers to orthorexics as ‘healthfood junkies’, unfortunately this rather tongue-in-cheek term does little to relay the seriousness and potentially life-threatening nature of the disorder.
In Dr Ingrid van Heerden’s paper Orthorexia- a new eating disorder? Catalina Zamora describes this disorder as a “pathological obsession for biologically pure food”. The obsession in this disorder stems from the restrictive nature of the person’s relationship with their food. What usually begins as a healthy diet progressively becomes more and more restrictive as additional items are removed from the diet; this deprivation of food items in the diet can have adverse effects on the orthorexic.
Research was conducted at the Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sepienza in 2004; of the 404 subjects in the study, scientists concluded that 7% of them suffered with orthorexia (www.eating-disorder.com). Giving prudence to this research, Ellin (2009) explains that Dr James Greenblatt has seen an estimated 15% increase in this form of behaviour among his young patients.
One of the major complications with Orthorexia is that it is not really considered to be a medical condition and as such does not have criteria for diagnosis. It is often perceived to be another form of anorexia nervosa or possibly a sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorder; at the very least, some medical practitioners are in agreement that the associated behaviour “explains an important and growing health phenomenon” (www.pamf.org).
What are the causes of Orthorexia?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- What are the causes of Orthorexia?
- Genetic factors
- Stress and family dynamics
- Desire to exercise control
- Signs of Orthorexia Nervosa...
- Diagnosis
- The Dangers of Healthy Eating Habits
- Orthorexia and:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Intervention
- When to intervene
- How to intervene
- It may unravel itself
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to introduce and examine the eating disorder known as Orthorexia Nervosa, focusing on its causes, symptoms, and potential interventions. The primary objective is to shed light on this relatively unexplored condition and to raise awareness about its potential impact on individuals. Key themes explored within the paper include: * **Definition and History:** The paper provides a definition of Orthorexia, tracing its origins and the evolution of the term. * **Causes:** The text delves into various factors that can contribute to the development of Orthorexia, such as genetic predisposition, stress, family dynamics, and the desire for control. * **Symptoms and Diagnosis:** The paper outlines the key characteristics and warning signs of Orthorexia, and discusses the challenges surrounding its diagnosis. * **Consequences and Links to Other Disorders:** The paper examines the potential negative consequences of Orthorexia, including its relationship to obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder. * **Intervention Strategies:** The paper explores approaches for intervention in cases of Orthorexia, emphasizing the importance of early recognition and appropriate support.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction defines Orthorexia, highlighting its origin and the shift from the initial term "righteous eating" to "orthorexia" in 1997. It emphasizes the focus on eating healthy foods and the obsessive nature of the disorder. The chapter further explores the potential dangers associated with this disorder, drawing comparisons with other eating disorders. It also highlights the lack of formal diagnostic criteria for Orthorexia.
Chapter two delves into the causes of Orthorexia, acknowledging the limited research available on this topic. It discusses the potential role of genetic factors, such as allergies and digestive issues, in the development of the disorder. The chapter also examines the influence of stress, family dynamics, and a desire for control on the development of Orthorexia. It suggests that families with a focus on healthy eating, particularly those who might be overly enthusiastic about creating "good" eating habits in their children, can contribute to the development of anxiety surrounding food intake and restrictive behaviors.
Chapter three focuses on the signs of Orthorexia, while Chapter four delves into the dangers of obsessive healthy eating habits. Chapter five explores the relationship between Orthorexia and other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Finally, Chapter six discusses intervention strategies, including when and how to intervene in cases of Orthorexia.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this work include orthorexia nervosa, healthy eating, obsession, food purity, genetic factors, stress, family dynamics, control, diagnosis, intervention, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder. The text explores the complex nature of this relatively understudied eating disorder, raising awareness about its potential impact on individuals and highlighting the need for further research and understanding.- Citar trabajo
- Gary Elliott (Autor), 2010, Orthorexia. When healthy eating becomes an obsession, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/275078
