Orthorexia: another type of eating disorder

Orthorexia, or orthorexia nervosa is a term coined by Dr. Steven Bratman, a Colorado MD, to denote an eating disorder characterized by a fixation on eating what the sufferer considers to be healthful food, which can ultimately lead to early death.

Bratman coined the term in 1997 from the Greek orthos, "correct or right", and orexis for "appetite". Literally "correct appetite", the word is modeled on anorexia, "without appetite". Bratman describes orthorexia as an unhealthy obsession (as in obsessive-compulsive disorder) with what the sufferer considers to be healthy eating. The subject may avoid certain foods, such as those containing fats, preservatives, or animal products, and suffer malnutrition.

A person with orthorexia nervosa is obsessed with what they believe is healthy eating. They may take a healthy diet to extremes. For instance, someone with orthorexia may begin following the Atkins diet, which restricts carbohydrates. They may then cut all carbs from their diet. While a diet of limited carbs may be healthy (and that’s debatable), a diet with no carbs is definitely not healthy.
Orthorexics often avoid processed foods, which are considered “artificial,” and preserved products, which are believed to be “dangerous.” Animal products are often avoided as well. The diet may be limited to only a few “safe” foods, for instance fresh fruits and vegetables.

The problem is that it’s impossible to live on only fruits and vegetables. People with orthorexia nervosa are often unhealthily thin. They are malnourished. They believe they are eating a healthy diet but in reality, they are not. Their diet is lacking in many key nutrients, such as protein, iron, and B vitamins. They suffer many of the health problems suffered by people with anorexia, and the condition can even be fatal.

Symptoms of orthorexia nervosa may include obsession with healthy eating, emaciation, and death by starvation. Orthorexic subjects typically have specific feelings towards different types of food. Preserved products are described as "dangerous", industrially produced products as "artificial", and biological products as "healthy". Sufferers demonstrate a strong or uncontrollable desire to eat when feeling nervous, excited, happy or guilty.

Orthorexia nervosa has a higher prevalence in men and in those with a lower level of education.

People with orthorexia are often unhealthily thin. They may suffer from dizziness and fainting, weakness and fatigue, anemia, hypotension (low blood pressure), and more serious medical problems. In severe cases, heart problems can occur, which can be fatal.

Treatment for orthorexia nervosa must begin with stabilizing any medical problems, if existent.

Education about proper nutrition is an important part of treatment. People with orthorexia are often resistant to this part of treatment because they believe they know what a healthy diet is, and that their diet is healthy. They are proud of their dietary choices.

Counseling is also recommended. It can help orthorexics increase self-esteem and set more realistic expectations for themselves.

People with orthorexia are often socially isolated by their condition. Their obsession with food and their eating habits leave them little time to develop social relationships. Their eating habits prevent them from going out to dinner with friends. As this changes, increasing social support is an important component of treatment.