The clinical basis of orthorexia nervosa: emerging perspectives

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Orthorexia nervosa, a term that describes a way of life style and diet pattern where individuals become preoccupied with healthy food. Orthorexics spend long time thinking about the quality of their food, researching about the type of food and knowing all details in their meal (weight, content of macro and micro nutrients and calories), how was the food that they want to eat was processes, packaged, and labeled.

 Although not formally diagnosed as an eating disorder by the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental Disorders), individuals with orthorexia experience many medical complications and dietary deficiencies, in addition to psychological and social consequences as a result of their strict diet and life style behavior. Orthorexia shares common traits with Anorexia Nervosa and OCD such as (perfectionism, impaired functioning, impaired working memory, and poor external monitoring). Also it shares common characteristics with AN (guilt over food transgression), with OCD (ritualized food preparation).

 Some measurement methods used to assess orthorixic individuals are ORTO-15 and EHQ (Eating Habit Questionnaire). Both scales assess eating behavior factors such as beliefs about effect of healthy food, attitude governing food selection, habits of food consumption, knowledge of healthy foods and thoughts and feelings associated with it.

 Although no standard treating method is used to treat orthorexia, it requires collaborative work from physicians, psychotherapists and dietitians. Further research are needed to develop a standard measurement method to assess orthorexic and to measure the prevalence and consequences of this condition.



A.K.B

Koven, N. S., & Abry, A. W. (2015). The clinical basis of orthorexia nervosa: emerging perspectives. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 11, 385.


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