Orthorexia: The Condition of Being too Healthy

Franchot · 08-20-09, 03:02 PM

http://www.medindia.net/news/Orthore...hy-54591-1.htm

Quote:

Eating disorders in the form of anorexia and bulimia are common knowledge, but did you know that there is a name for eating too healthy as well? Steven Bratman, an alternative medicine specialist has coined the term "Orthorexia" for such a condition.

"Obsession with healthy food can progress to the point where it crowds out other activities and interests, impairs relationships, and even becomes physically dangerous. When this happens, orthorexia takes on the dimensions of a true eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa or bulimia," he says.

Like its counterpart, anorexia, orthorexia is also an unhealthy condition. It can lead to headaches, nausea and unwanted loss of weight. Furthermore orthorexics also have the added danger of falling into a pattern of avoiding foods, which may be very necessary for the body.

They did a report on this "disease" on my local news last night. I didn't think that such a "disease" existed. How can you be TOO healthy of an eater? I thought the idea was to cut out all the crap in your diet so that you could live longer. I gave up french fries and donuts long ago. I think I'm suffering from orthorexia.

datagirl7 · 08-20-09, 03:17 PM

I saw a show about this. It's not too healthy. It's too much thought/work at being healthy

The people they showed were taking hundreds of pills a day, and their whole day was based around taking them at the "right" times. They were emaciated, because they wouldn't eat anything with salt, or cholesterol, or pesticides, or . . . . They were quite unhealthy because they were trying to be so healthy and were just taking it too far. Measuring everyting. Counting everything. Pretty much their whole day was spent working on what they could eat and preparing it. and then feeling guilty about what they did/didnt' do right. It looked like a horrible thing to have.

jdodd · 08-20-09, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franchot

http://www.medindia.net/news/Orthore...hy-54591-1.htm

They did a report on this "disease" on my local news last night. I didn't think that such a "disease" existed. How can you be TOO healthy of an eater? I thought the idea was to cut out all the crap in your diet so that you could live longer. I gave up french fries and donuts long ago. I think I'm suffering from orthorexia.

You probably already know this, but they're talking about the obsession that can go into making sure you're eating healthy, to the extent that it crowds out other aspects of your normal life. I had never heard of this until I opened this thread, but I can already think of 3 or 4 people I know who may have it.

Franchot · 08-20-09, 04:08 PM

Well, if you're under a healthy weight for your size and stature, wouldn't a person afflicted with this disease just eat more healthy foods? (Like a big tub of organic broccoli and brown rice?) Because the end result is that they want to be healthy at any cost? Correct?

08-20-09, 03:17 PM	#2
datagirl7 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,216	Re: Orthorexia: The Condition of Being too Healthy I saw a show about this. It's not too healthy. It's too much thought/work at being healthy The people they showed were taking hundreds of pills a day, and their whole day was based around taking them at the "right" times. They were emaciated, because they wouldn't eat anything with salt, or cholesterol, or pesticides, or . . . . They were quite unhealthy because they were trying to be so healthy and were just taking it too far. Measuring everyting. Counting everything. Pretty much their whole day was spent working on what they could eat and preparing it. and then feeling guilty about what they did/didnt' do right. It looked like a horrible thing to have. __________________ "You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." -- Marcus

08-20-09, 04:08 PM	#4
Franchot DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Signal Hill, CA Posts: 1,973	Re: Orthorexia: The Condition of Being too Healthy Well, if you're under a healthy weight for your size and stature, wouldn't a person afflicted with this disease just eat more healthy foods? (Like a big tub of organic broccoli and brown rice?) Because the end result is that they want to be healthy at any cost? Correct?