Long-Term Effects of Orthorexia

What Are the Five Warning Signs of Orthorexia? 

Orthorexia nervosa is one of the newest recognized eating disorder types, but many professionals are starting to announce that the disorder should include an individual treatment plan. According to Iowa State University, the term means “fixation on righteous eating.” There are specific signs that a person will display that will show that they have the disorder. These signs include:  

• Obsessive behavior: The intention to eat well gets buried under compulsion, and eventually, the obsession takes over a person’s mind.  
• Self-esteem issues: People will attach their self-worth to the foods they eat, and if they do not avoid the “unhealthy” food, then they will experience feelings of guilt and shame.  
• Isolation: Food begins to take over the majority of a person’s energy and time since they will focus on what food they will eat and how much to eat, and they will worry about feeling guilty if they eat something they consider unhealthy.  
• Health issues: From hormone imbalance to an impaired metabolism process, a person may lose a significant amount of weight and experience mood swings.  
• Fear: Over time, a person will form a fear of food which means that more and more foods will be left out of a necessary diet. A person will then feel the effects of malnutrition.  

The risks of long-term effects from orthorexia rapidly increase after a person begins showing signs of isolation. The person with the disorder will cut out one or multiple food categories like sugars and carbs. The lack of proper nutrients inflicts rapid weight loss and other harmful impacts on the body, which can result in depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.  

What Are the Side Effects of Orthorexia?  

The adverse long-term effects of orthorexia are not worth waiting to get treatment. The effects fall into three categories which are physical, psychological, and social effects. The long-term effects of orthorexia include:  

• Anemia 
• Mood swings 
• Digestive problems 
• Depressive episodes  
• Weakened immune system  
• Abnormally slow heart rate 
• Lack of productivity or energy  
• Intrusive food-related thoughts  
• Complicated social interactions  
• Electrolyte and hormonal imbalances  

People with the disorder may also believe that their food habits are superior to others which leads them into a more compulsive or obsessive eating pattern. Eventually, anorexia nervosa treatment will be necessary as a person may become seriously malnourished. Although these effects do not have to be life-long, they are long-term if a person does not receive proper medical care.