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Orthorexia- An obsession with being healthy
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Since writing about Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food, I have been thinking about a point he explores in his book and I only touched on in my last post: the idea of Orthorexia, that is, an obsession with being healthy. Coined by Stevan Bratman, MD, in 1997, the term stems from the greek worth ortho meaning straight and correct. As stated in an article by ABC News, “Anorexics seem to always think they're fat, but orthorexics know they're thin, but they want to be pure." Although this isn’t officially recognized as an eating disorder, it is gaining steam as a relevant problem in society. It reads as a hybrid of anorexia and obsessive compulsive disorder. Sufferers often lose a staggering amount of body weight and have symptoms similar to those of an anorexic, but they are not striving to be thin. Instead, they practice almost ritualistic eating and are consumed with the notions of keeping their bodies clean. This is a way of thinking that can be disguised as a healthy lifestyle. No one faults another for wanting to eat better and eat the best, most nutritious foods available to them. Orthorexics are able to hide behind the notion of purity, something many prize in individuals so they will never condemn in a diet. 
Although any health expert will advocate a diet made up of whole, unprocessed ingredients, Orthrorexics take it to a dangerous extreme.
Although any health expert will advocate a diet made up of whole, unprocessed ingredients, Orthrorexics take it to a dangerous extreme. Since coming across this concept I have been particularly troubled by it. As someone who spent the better part of her life dieting and being preoccupied with weight, and now having an avenue to explore one of my favorite topics all the time, it seems strange to think that I may have actually dealt with a form of disordered eating. This is a feeling I am guessing many of you may feel after reading this article.
The reason I wanted to explore this further is that it seems to be a trap many dieters can fall into if they’re not careful. If you think there might be a chance that you have fallen victim to Orthoexia, try taking this self test. I am not suggesting this as a diagnosis, just a way to get more information if this concept strikes a certain chord. You can also check out Steve Bratman's book Health Food Junkies: Orthorexia: Overcoming the Obsession with Healthful Eating. It documents his own bought with the disorder while living in a commune in the 1970's.
Disordered eating is not to be confused with a strict diet regiment. It is a pattern that might follow you for the rest of your life. Make sure you diet right, not destructively.
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