Diagnosis and treatment of Orthorexia

Orthorexia Nervosa has not yet an official diagnostic criteria set out in accordance to the DSM IV. In January 2007 however, two peer-reviewed studies were published on the Orthorexia Nervosa. In the studies, Donini et al. define Orthorexia nervosa as a "maniacal obsession for healthy foods" and propose the following diagnostic criteria;

Sufferers of Orthorexia often display symptoms consistent with Obsessive compulsive disorder. Individuals have an exaggerated concern with healthy eating patterns.

A diagnostic questionnaire has been developed for Orthorexia sufferers, similar to questionnaires for other eating disorders and depression. Bratman proposed an initial self-test composed of the following two direct questions;

Do you care more about the virtue of what you eat than the pleasure you receive from eating it? Does your diet socially isolate you?

Treatment of Orthorexia nervosa

Most Orthorexia treatment requires psychological counselling. Mainly because the individual needs to become aware of how their eating disorder is affecting their life negatively. They also need to be coached into understanding ‘real’ healthy diet, most Orthorexic patients feel there is nothing wrong with their diet, in fact they are proud of what their diet comprises of.

 

As with all eating disorders, Orthorexia is progressive. It thus requires treatment as early as possible in order to prevent the obsessive behaviour from developing into something that would be extremely difficult to manage or correct. For any treatment to be successful it is important to discover where these thoughts and feelings about food and eating habits begin. Quite often these problems stem from issues of low self-esteem or a need for more control in their own lives.

As this is an eating disorder it therefore requires the services of a doctor or nutritionist. These are highly recommended for successful recovery. A Therapist must be able to deal with the intellectual, relational, physical, emotional and spiritual aspect of the individual in question. Orthorexia treatment can be administered through providing new experiences and attitudes towards food and health. The person may require individual as well as group therapy sessions as well as education on the importance of a proper diet.

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