Therapy Toronto Psychotherapy Definitions

Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia nervosa refers to a fixation on eating healthy food.

It is characterized by a narrow selection of food choices and/or increasing numbers of nutritional supplements.

Social outings are limited due to their inability to cater to the severe restrictions of the diet. Deviation from the diet is followed by feelings of guilt and depression. Where people with other eating disorders focus on the quantity of food consumed, people with orthorexia focus obsessively on the quality of food consumed.

This disorder can also include a fixation on exercise and a compulsive need to balance calorie consumption with hours spent working out.

When exercise is not possible, the individual will experience anxiety and fear of loss of control over the body results. The use of anabolic steroids and other supplements to enhance physical appearance may also be a part of this syndrome.(AD)

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