Have you ever heard of the word Orthorexia? As far as I can remember I have only heard of two eating disorders – Anorexia and Bulimia. And it’s so intriguing to know that there is another term that adds to this famous eating disorders list – Orthorexia. It is not yet an official medical diagnosis, and it is not yet listed in the DSM-IV.

Orthorexia or orthorexia nervosa is a term coined in 1997 by Steven Bratman, a Colorado MD, to denote an eating disorder characterized by excessive focus on eating healthy foods. In rare cases, this focus may turn into a fixation or obsession so extreme that it can lead to severe malnutrition or even death.

Orthorexia is thought to stem from some of the same causes of anorexia, but Bratman says otherwise. He states that the underlying motivation between these two disorders is quite different, while an anorexic wants to lose weight, an orthorexic wants to feel pure, healthy and natural and sufferers are usually of their ideal BMIs.

Orthorexic subjects typically have specific feelings towards different types of food. The subject may avoid certain foods, such as those containing fats, preservatives, animal products, or other ingredients considered by the subject to be unhealthy. 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. There is a danger of becoming malnourished by excessive restrictions, though.

Ursula Philpot of the British Dietetic Association’s mental health group stated that there is a large swelling of orthorexia cases in the UK. She said that these subjects are exclusively concerned with food quality – that is based on how they perceive a food as ‘pure’ or ‘organic’.

Experts believe the increase in orthorexia may be due to:

* Food scares in the media.
* Companies promoting “pure” (and often pricy) alternatives.
* Social influences from groups of friends, e.g. all cutting out the same food group.
* Personal trainers at the gym recommending specific foods or supplements.
* An increase in the numbers of nutritionists, dieticians and naturalists – not all of whom are trained or qualified.

So, where’s the line between a healthy concern about eating well, and an unhealthy obsession with eating perfectly?

One of the newest eating disorders, orthorexia, is becoming more prevalent. And this is a growing concern not only to those who are concerned with dealing and taking care of the sufferers but to those who may have friends or acquaintances that are being orthorexic-like.