When does a healthy lifestyle turn into a disorder? Orthorexia – diagnostic problems, methods of treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a common phenomenon. Its prevalence in society ranges from 1% to 60%. Yet, there are no specific diagnostic criteria or effective screening tests. Moreover, orthorexia does not appear in any of the available international psychiatric classifications such as the ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) and DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Due to this fact many people remain undiagnosed, which significantly affects their standard of living, and later puts a strain on the health care system.
 Material and method: The article is based on a study and analysis of available publications in the last few years, published in the PubMed database.
 Conclusions: It is crucial to create specific diagnostic criteria for orthorexia. This will enable efficient detection of patients at an early stage of the disorder, which will significantly shorten the diagnostic path. Moreover, specifying potential risk factors will help to reduce new cases.

Intra- and Interpersonal Dimensions of Orthorexia: Preliminary Development and Validation of an Intra- and Interpersonal Effects Scale for Orthorexia

“…Although more than a quarter of a century has passed since the publication of the first paper on the topic of orthorexia nervosa (ON), diagnostic criteria for this disorder have still not been developed. Reliable tools to measure the variables associated with the disorder have not yet been created to this date [1]. ON is described as a disorder in which there is an obsessive focus on "healthy" eating and dietary restrictions.…”

“…Higher wealth levels make it easier to access healthy and organic foods [11]. The diet industry and the fitness industry have had a tremendous impact on the development of an obsession with healthy food, the pursuit of the ideal slim figure, and the desire to control one's body [1,15]. Social media also has a significant impact on orthorexic behavior creation.…”