Healthy eating is a bedrock of healthy living. It can help people maintain a healthy weight, ward off diseases and boost energy.<\/p>\n
Could a healthy-eating habit reach a point where it's an unhealthy obsession?<\/p>\n
Experts are increasingly looking at a disorder known as orthorexia, or an obsession with healthy eating, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
It's not recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders, but experts say it's becoming more common. Orthorexia starts out as a focus on healthy eating, but morphs into an unhealthy fixation on food quality.<\/p>\n
The focus on food quality sets orthorexia apart from eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, which tend to have more of a focus on quantity of food consumed.<\/p>\n
While it begins as a healthy trend, those with orthorexia can become so restrictive in their choice of food that it can lead to nutritional deficiencies and lowered quality of life.<\/p>\n
People with orthorexia can get frustrated when their eating plan is thwarted, feel guilt and self-loathing when they go off their strict schedule, and spend a significant amount of time planning meals and researching food.<\/p>\n
Watch for these warning signs of orthorexia:<\/p>\n
Social media and the \"clean eating\" trend can push people toward orthorexia. It's a difficult-to-diagnose disorder, as those with it appear to be living a healthy lifestyle. Some with orthorexia focus on eating only organic foods. Some eliminate all sugar, fat and salt. Often the person eats an increasingly restrictive diet.<\/p>\n
A combination of therapy and education can help people recover from orthorexia.<\/p>\n
Linden Oaks Behavioral Health is known throughout the Chicago area for its comprehensive eating disorder services, which provide group therapy, individual\/family therapy, nutrition education and exercise counseling to help individuals address complex psychological issues while treating physical and dietary needs. For more information, visit http:\/\/www.EEHealth.org\/services\/behavioral-health<\/a>.<\/p>\n For updates on COVID-19, check EEHealth.org\/coronavirus.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n More here: Healthy eating is a bedrock of healthy living. It can help people maintain a healthy weight, ward off diseases and boost energy. Could a healthy-eating habit reach a point where it's an unhealthy obsession? Continue reading
\nWhen healthy eating becomes unhealthy: orthorexia - Patch.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"