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See Also
See Again
© Istock
0 / 29 Fotos
Balanced diet - We all know that a balanced diet is fundamental to making sure our bodies are happy, healthy and full of energy.
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Choices - Fruit, vegetables and protein in the right amounts are good for us and many people eat lots of these foods.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
Reverse effect - However, if these foods are over consumed and other food types, such as carbohydrates, dairy products and wheat, ignored, then this is no longer a healthy diet.
© Istock
3 / 29 Fotos
Strict diet - Some people start to follow diets that are so strict that they begin to suffer from certain nutrient and vitamin deficiencies.
© Istock
4 / 29 Fotos
Disorder - This obsession with healthy eating is called orthorexia nervosa. People who suffer from this disorder can reach points where they aren't even able to eat when away from home. They don't usually think there is anything wrong with them.
© Istock
5 / 29 Fotos
Organic - They will often over consume organic products.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
Restrictions - Sufferers will not eat dairy products, meat or carbohydrates.
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
Unhealthy habits - Meals are an important part of each day for all of us, but for people with orthorexia the whole day is focused on mealtimes.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Planning - Some plan days in advance exactly what they will eat for each meal.
© Istock
9 / 29 Fotos
Damaging - Orthorexia can become so consuming that it starts to affect a person's work or study.
© Istock
10 / 29 Fotos
Isolation - Their social life can also be affected. Victims of orthorexia often avoid bars or restaurants as they have no control over what food they are being served.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Consequences - Orthorexia can result in anemia and other nutrient and vitamin deficiencies.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
First diagnosis - The disorder was diagnosed for the first time in 1997 by American doctor Steven Bratman, who has started the site Orthorexia.com to deal with the subject.
© Istock
13 / 29 Fotos
Diet versus disorder - According to an article on the portal Diets in review, doctor Steven Bratman warns that a diet is not diagnosed as orthorexia, but that an extreme, constant diet is.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
Patients - Bratman even published a book called 'Health Food Junkies,' which gives a detailed explanation on a study he did with orthorexia patients.
© Istock
15 / 29 Fotos
Restricted food - His findings reveal that the agony of being orthorexic is not just limited to the excessive control of what you eat, but also a feeling of guilt.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Guilty - When an orthorexic person eats something they don't consider healthy, then they feel anxious and guilty.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Hair loss - Physical problems resulting from orthorexia can include hair loss.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
Menstruation - Bratman also writes that orthorexia in women can cause disruptions to their menstrual cycles.
© Istock
19 / 29 Fotos
Skin problems - Skin problems linked to vitamin deficiencies can be another symptom.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Weight loss - A more direct and obvious effect is excessive weight loss.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Deterioration - If orthorexia is not treated properly then it can lead to more serious disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.
© Istock
22 / 29 Fotos
Diagnosis - Diagnosis of orthorexia can only be made by a doctor through a close examination of a patient's eating habits.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Tests - Diagnosis also includes carrying out tests to detect possible vitamin or nutrient deficiencies in the body.
© Istock
24 / 29 Fotos
Acceptance - The first step to treating orthorexia is for the patient to admit that their eating habits are extreme.
© Istock
25 / 29 Fotos
Support - Family support is vital to helping sufferers.
© Istock
26 / 29 Fotos
Help - It's not only medical and family support that can help orthorexic people, as psychological treatment is also useful.
© Istock
27 / 29 Fotos
Cure?
- If you or someone you know may be suffering from orthorexia, it's best to seek the advice of a medical professional. See also: Everyday things you didn’t realize are harming your mental health
© Istock
28 / 29 Fotos
© Istock
0 / 29 Fotos
Balanced diet - We all know that a balanced diet is fundamental to making sure our bodies are happy, healthy and full of energy.
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Choices - Fruit, vegetables and protein in the right amounts are good for us and many people eat lots of these foods.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
Reverse effect - However, if these foods are over consumed and other food types, such as carbohydrates, dairy products and wheat, ignored, then this is no longer a healthy diet.
© Istock
3 / 29 Fotos
Strict diet - Some people start to follow diets that are so strict that they begin to suffer from certain nutrient and vitamin deficiencies.
© Istock
4 / 29 Fotos
Disorder - This obsession with healthy eating is called orthorexia nervosa. People who suffer from this disorder can reach points where they aren't even able to eat when away from home. They don't usually think there is anything wrong with them.
© Istock
5 / 29 Fotos
Organic - They will often over consume organic products.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
Restrictions - Sufferers will not eat dairy products, meat or carbohydrates.
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
Unhealthy habits - Meals are an important part of each day for all of us, but for people with orthorexia the whole day is focused on mealtimes.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Planning - Some plan days in advance exactly what they will eat for each meal.
© Istock
9 / 29 Fotos
Damaging - Orthorexia can become so consuming that it starts to affect a person's work or study.
© Istock
10 / 29 Fotos
Isolation - Their social life can also be affected. Victims of orthorexia often avoid bars or restaurants as they have no control over what food they are being served.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Consequences - Orthorexia can result in anemia and other nutrient and vitamin deficiencies.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
First diagnosis - The disorder was diagnosed for the first time in 1997 by American doctor Steven Bratman, who has started the site Orthorexia.com to deal with the subject.
© Istock
13 / 29 Fotos
Diet versus disorder - According to an article on the portal Diets in review, doctor Steven Bratman warns that a diet is not diagnosed as orthorexia, but that an extreme, constant diet is.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
Patients - Bratman even published a book called 'Health Food Junkies,' which gives a detailed explanation on a study he did with orthorexia patients.
© Istock
15 / 29 Fotos
Restricted food - His findings reveal that the agony of being orthorexic is not just limited to the excessive control of what you eat, but also a feeling of guilt.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Guilty - When an orthorexic person eats something they don't consider healthy, then they feel anxious and guilty.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Hair loss - Physical problems resulting from orthorexia can include hair loss.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
Menstruation - Bratman also writes that orthorexia in women can cause disruptions to their menstrual cycles.
© Istock
19 / 29 Fotos
Skin problems - Skin problems linked to vitamin deficiencies can be another symptom.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Weight loss - A more direct and obvious effect is excessive weight loss.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Deterioration - If orthorexia is not treated properly then it can lead to more serious disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.
© Istock
22 / 29 Fotos
Diagnosis - Diagnosis of orthorexia can only be made by a doctor through a close examination of a patient's eating habits.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Tests - Diagnosis also includes carrying out tests to detect possible vitamin or nutrient deficiencies in the body.
© Istock
24 / 29 Fotos
Acceptance - The first step to treating orthorexia is for the patient to admit that their eating habits are extreme.
© Istock
25 / 29 Fotos
Support - Family support is vital to helping sufferers.
© Istock
26 / 29 Fotos
Help - It's not only medical and family support that can help orthorexic people, as psychological treatment is also useful.
© Istock
27 / 29 Fotos
Cure?
- If you or someone you know may be suffering from orthorexia, it's best to seek the advice of a medical professional. See also: Everyday things you didn’t realize are harming your mental health
© Istock
28 / 29 Fotos
Orthorexia: when healthy eating goes too far
Learn about the causes, symptoms and treatment for orthorexia.
© Istock
These days we're always being told to eat healthily. From getting your five portions of fruit and veg and drinking eight glasses of water a day, to cutting back on sugar, carbs and wheat, we're literally flooded with advice. Most of us do the best we can, but occasionally people become so obsessed with healthy eating that it can lead to a completely different type of disorder: orthorexia.
Click here to discover more about the condition.
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