When eating right goes wrong

Orthorexics believe that certain foods are impure and obsessively avoid foods which may contain artificial colours,flavours,preservatives,pesticide residues,herbicides,genetically modified ingredients,unhealthy fats,foods containing too much salt or too much sugar and other components. The way of preparation,kitchenware and other tools used are also part of the obsessive ritual. The more restrictive and complicated the diet,the more an orthorexic is attracted to it.

If they do consume foods which conflict with their belief,they get anxious or depressed. Gradually,their diet compulsions become so overriding that they may not eat food prepared by their parents,relatives or friends,even if they are starving. Usually,they move away from friends and relatives who do not share their dietary habits and gravitate towards people who share their philosophies about food—laced with a sense of superiority or morality.

There could be a strong genetic pre-disposition to this behavior. An orthorexic type of personality usually is a perfectionist,anxious,very careful,tidy person with an exaggerated need for self-care and protection. They have a need for control and their diet may have a calming effect. Both genders are affected. Adolescent males,sportsmen,athletes and body builders are at higher risk. Boys as young as eight or nine years old can also be affected.

While orthorexics,anorexics and bulimics are preoccupied with food,the difference between othorexia and other disorders is that anorexics and bulimics obsess over the quantity of food they take in whereas orthorexics obsess over quality. Orthorexics are driven by the goal of a perfect diet,while anorexics and bulimics are motivated by weight loss. Orthorexics are obsessed with health while anorexics are in denial that there is something unhealthy going on.

Treatment of orthorexia,like other disorders,requires a multidisciplinary team involving physicians,psychotherapists and nutritionists. While this condition is hardly known to be fatal,it can lead to malnutrition,ill-health,loss of social relationships and general dissatisfaction. Some cases of starvation-induced heart failure have been reported.

Orthorexia is a new term and more research is needed to understand it better. Though the jury is still out as to whether orthorexia is a disorder in itself or a part of eating disorders,health professionals including nutritionists must recognise this obsessive eating behavior and appropriately treat such individuals including referring them to mental health professionals and physicians.

Screening test developed by Dr Steven Bratman:
*Do you spend more than 3 hours a day thinking about your diet?
*Do you plan your meals several days ahead?
*Is the nutritional value of your meal more important than the pleasure of eating it?
*Has the quality of your life decreased as the quality of your diet has increased?
*Have you become stricter with yourself lately?
*Does your self-esteem get a boost from eating healthily?
*Have you given up foods you used to enjoy in order to eat the ‘right’ foods
*Does your diet make it difficult for you to eat out,distancing you from family and friends?
*Do you feel guilty when you stray from your diet?
*Do you feel at peace with yourself and in total control when you eat healthily?
Yes to 4 or 5 of the above questions means it is time to relax more about food. Yes to all of them means a full-blown obsession with eating healthy food.