During the past years, healthy eating has really taken off. This is especially positive as obesity remains one of the public health concerns of most concern to the global health community as it is the second cause of premature death after tobacco. From time to time, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns of the risks to which we expose ourselves if we have a high body mass index; including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. On the other hand, numerous ‘influencers’ from social networks act as speakers for healthy eating habits, as well as movements such as el veganism, the ‘body positive’ or homemade food.
Therefore, we can say that there is more awareness than ever of the importance of a healthy diet based on natural foods, especially vegetables, compared to processed foods and ‘fast food’. From this newspaper, we advocate a way of life whose pillars are healthy eating and regular exercise. However, no deductible is goodeven the one born by following the right path and having good habits.
The exact number of cases is not known, but it is known to become an increasingly frequent problem and to increase with the years
In 2000, ‘Health Food Junkies’ was published, a book that caused great controversy and sheds light on a mental disorder that has become more acute in the population over time and that It has not yet been officially recognized by WHO as a disease. His actor, Steve Bratman, coined the term orthorexia (from the Greek ‘ortho’, ‘just’ and ‘exía’, ‘appetite’) to refer to eating behaviors that crystallize in an obsession with healthy food and lead the individual to situations of social isolation and extreme guilt for eating . not entirely healthy products.
“Unlike anorexia and bulimia, which look at the amount of food, orthorexia ‘pays attention to the quality’, claims Eva Perez, Chairman of the Professional Board of Dietitians-Nutritionists of La Rioja, at El Confidencial. “Although it is not recognized in the manuals for the diagnosis of mental disorders, it is taken into account as it is still an eating disorder.”
Sandra Toribio
Like any eating disorder, it can have serious physical and mental consequences for those who suffer from it, although it is true that the problem is invisible and there is ignorance in the medical and psychological community. “The number of existing cases is not exactly knownbut it is known to become an increasingly common problem and to increase with age, “warns Pérez. In this sense, food is still a central aspect of one’s health and social life. Therefore, its short and long-term effects are term similar to that caused by poor diet, such as ‘malnutrition, anemia or hypervitaminosis’. On a psychological level, “these obsessive disorders can lead us to suffer episodes of anxiety or depression, which prevent the patient from wanting to leave his home, thus diminishing his social life”.
A difficult diagnosis
What does the profile of a person with orthorexia look like? “They tend to have a very strict, controlling and self-critical personality that goes this fareven with obsessive-compulsive behavior, “explains the president of the college of dietitians.”Women and teenagers who play sports such as bodybuilding or athletics they are the most vulnerable because they are more sensitive to the value of food and its impact on personal image. On the other hand, it usually doesn’t affect people from marginal environments, as they tend to seek out foods that are more expensive and difficult. reach, therefore it is an urgent condition, especially in developed countries. ”
The first thing the patient should ask to diagnose orthorexia is whether his eating habits are socially isolating him
To all this is added the difficulty of diagnosing, since, as with other mental illnesses, the patient does not want to acknowledge or realize that a mere fondness for something as positive as healthy eating can eventually become a problem. obsession, and with it your personal and social life. According to Bratman, and in the words of Eva Pérez, the first question the patient should ask is whether his eating habits isolate him socially. And then, to conclude that it is indeed orthorexia, ask these other questions: “Are you more concerned about the quality of food than the pleasure of it? If the quality of your diet improves, does your quality of life decrease? Do you feel guilty if you skip your regime? “
With regard to treatment, Pérez believes it should not differ much from other eating disorders. “It should be handled by a multidisciplinary team where psychiatric therapy is combined with pharmacological, psychological treatment and intervention of the dietitian-nutritionist to gradually incorporate the possible nutrients he is missing into the diet and adjust his diet, ”he emphasizes.
Social media and orthorexia
We live in a social and historical context in which social networks have that a huge influence on young people and adolescents, as well as in the entire population in general. As is logical, there are good and bad; and in this case, healthy food will always be good, because it is essential to enjoy good health at such a time as we are in. However, if, as Pérez said, the person has a tendency to be too controlling and perfectionist in anything that refers to the foods they eat, there is a risk of developing orthorexia. In this sense, this problem can worsen if you only consume content from ‘influencers’ who are committed to healthy nutrition and to show off a perfect body.
“Affects everything, it has been true since social networks and the media give a perfect picture of food, of what we should be eating, and that causes it to affect other people, ” explains Pérez. Today, the food supply is very broad, but at the same time, the excess information received is very high and that is not always information verified by the right professionals. We must also differentiate that eating a good diet is not the same as being obsessed with or obsessing about it to think that the food industry is poisoning the population. “
Enrique Zamorano
In short, it is necessary to bet on healthy food, a fundamental pillar of a person’s health. But you also don’t fall into the unhealthy obsession and go to the other extreme, as mental illness related to eating behavior has a very serious impact on the lives of those who suffer from it. After all, comer is a core activity in our culture, and much trauma is generated by this vital activity, but so imbued with ideologies, values and attitudes.
Therefore, before betting on radical measures or changes, it is appropriate to eat a balanced diet that includes all types of food, fresh and if possible non-industrial, giving more space to fruit and vegetables, powerhouse of vitamins and minerals and free from unhealthy fats. But that this does not become an obsession to hold us back enjoy delicious dishes that we can share with the people we love.