Saturday, 06 October 2018
Orthorexia - The Eating Disorter of the Era
In recent years, more and more people are watching social media and are informed about foods, calories, supplements, slimming, famous diets, superfood, and more.
But beware, because, in addition to the useful information you can draw, you may be putting yourself at risk for some eating disorder.
Numerous studies have found that there is a link between the use of social networking media and eating disorders, in particular, orthorexia, which is a disturbed eating behavior and is characterized by persistence and extreme occupation with healthy eating, which in the future lead to unhealthy consequences, such as excessive weight loss, nutrient deficiency, social isolation and anxiety.
So far, however, orthorexia is not officially recognized and is not included in the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, although it is a pathological condition and the number of people who fight with orthorexia is great.
A 2017 study on eating disorders and weight disorders, found that a staggering 49% of people who had healthy eating diets through Instagram had a rust. On the contrary, less than 1% of the general population only faces this eating disorder, which, as mentioned above, is characterized by extreme avoidance of food that is considered unhealthy.
Of course, many people use social media safely and wisely to find healthy eating advice or stay focused on a balanced diet plan. You should never forget, however, that this search for nutritious and healthy foods can lead to an unhealthy attitude, with negative effects on your physical and mental health.
You should always keep in mind that eating disorders do not discriminate. They can equally affect men, women, boys, and girls and of course "knock the door" at any age. However, teenagers are at the greatest risk because they spend more time on the internet and much of their knowledge and information comes from there.
The emphasis you can place on meals on your various social obligations can be a risk factor for developing a nutritional disorder. Unrealistic messages, as well as advice from "wrong" people and unreliable sources, help differentiate behavior and can have a negative impact on how you feel for yourself.
While there is no way to accurately predict who will experience a nutritional disorder, if one of the following sounds familiar to you, then you can put yourself at risk.
1. You do not want to eat outside the house
Your obsession with food may go so far as not to "endure" someone else cooking for you or not knowing exactly the ingredients used to prepare your food. Therefore, avoid having meals in restaurants and other dining areas.
2. You Monitor the Purity of Your Food
Although you may spend a lot of time thinking about food, such as someone who suffers from anorexia or bulimia, your persistence has to do with the quality and purity of the foods and not necessarily with your desire to lose weight or to stay on your ideal weight.
You are still involved in how to prepare, process and store your food, as people with orthorexia try to consume clean and healthy foods.
3. You Will Never Eat Dessert
A person who follows a balanced diet can enjoy the dessert sometimes, sometimes bypassing it. However, a person with orthorexia will not dare eat the dessert unless he knows the exact ingredients it includes, but he will still insist on looking for information about its ingredients.
4. You Avoid Any Food Considered Unhealthy
Those who care for their diet and want to eat healthily can limit the addition of sugar, salt, saturated fat, standardized snacks etc., while those with orthorexia avoid these foods altogether. The type of food that is avoided and considered unhealthy varies from person to person.
5. You Avoid Social Meetings That Include Food
Insisting on healthy eating isolates you to the point where you avoid social gatherings or other food-related activities.
Summing up, when the obsession with healthy diet begins to have a decisive impact on your quality of life, it's time to seek the help of a specialist.
You should always think about the people you follow in the social media, the pages that you get the information you are looking for, the various blogs, etc., are reliable sources and of course if they fit your lifestyle.
READ MORE: Dietplus.gr
SOURCE: Dietplus.gr