Orthorexia
Orthorexia Nervosa usually begins with a focus on healthier eating which becomes an obsession with healthy food. People suffering from orthorexia are often obsessed with “pure” or “clean” foods. Someone with orthorexia might only eat whole foods, unprocessed foods, or foods without fat, salt, sugar or animal products. A person with orthorexia might also prepare foods in specific ways, cleaning the food meticulously or insisting that it be cooked thoroughly to kill bacteria. Over time, orthorexia leads to social isolation, malnutrition, and severe anxiety regarding eating. Although orthorexia can result in weight loss, the goal is more about eating “correctly” than losing weight. Here at DietitiansABQ, we want to help you with your fears surrounding food and it’s effect on your body. After a thorough nutrition assessment with special attention paid to any medical complications that may exist, areas of focus may include:
- Macronutrient needs
- Establishment of healthy weight goals
- Nutrition education
- Development of a meal plan or an eating plan
- Exercise
- Need for supplementation
- Evaluating behaviors surrounding food
- Assessment of changes in laboratory values
- Planning to reduce and eliminate food-centered reactions to triggers.
- Involvement of family when appropriate.
Referral to counseling services specializing in eating disorders.