Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Turns Against You

By Published on September 28, 2015

Although Prins knew something was wrong, she did not find a name for it until she stumbled upon a book on orthorexia nervosa by Dr Steven Bratman. Bratman first coined the term in 1997 for a pattern of healthy eating that crosses over into eating disorder territory. “Ortho” means right or correct, and “rexia” means desire. In other words, a desire to be correct. Prins finally knew what was wrong with her.

Distinct from other eating disorders, orthorexia is “an unhealthy obsession with otherwise healthy eating”, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. It’s unknown how widespread the condition is because it is not currently recognized as a clinical diagnosis. As awareness of healthy eating grows and more consumers than ever before go vegan and gluten free, clinicians say they are encountering more patients presenting orthorexia symptoms. Now, some health experts are calling for its formal recognition.

Last year, a prominent health food blogger, Jordan Younger, announced to her followers that she was battling orthorexia, making headlines in fitness and lifestyle magazines. Since then, Younger has devoted her blog, and her Instagram account, which has 120,000 followers, to balanced eating and raising awareness of orthorexia.

Read the article “Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Turns Against You” on theguardian.com.

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