Unhealthy Health Food Obsession? WHAT!?!

Upon researching medias effect on the ideal body image I came across a term I had never heard before, Orthorexia Nervosa, the unhealthy health food obsession. This seems like a contradiction; I mean how can only eating healthy food be bad for you, right?

That is what many critics of this term say before they actually take a closer look at what this disorder really is. Just like any other obsession or compulsive form of behavior it can take over a persons life and just like other eating disorders, in severe cases can lead to malnutrition and possible death.

Stephen Bratman MD, originally coined the phrase "orthorexia nervosa" in his 1997 article The Health Food Eating Disorder, as a way to describe a specific form of obsessive behavior that he himself had previously suffered from.

In anorexia and bulimia the sufferer is focused on the quantity of food they eat where as an orthorexic is more considered about the quality of food. They focus on foods that THEY percieve as pure; and healthy foods; typically natural, raw, whole or organic . These individuals are concerned with eating healthy but become obsessed to the point that their diet becomes so selective their health may actually suffer. As this obsession develops the need to find, prepare and consume only the percieved pure foods takes over the orthorexics life causing problems in personal relationships and social isolation. Their entire life becomes centered on food, consuming all other interests.

This is the distinction between eating a basic healthy diet, a vegan, vegetarian or people with natural/whole/raw food eating habits. The orthorexic's diet consumes all aspects of life causing potential mental distress and physical harm from lack of proper nutrition.

This disorder typically stems from a desire to be healthy but can have underlying causes such as the drive to be thin, finding a sense of control in life, improving ones self image and identity and the fear of poor health (Katrina 4).

John Foyert,PhD in his editorial Pursuit of the Elusive Ideal Body Image points out that as the ideal body image becomes thinner this new type of disorder has begun to spread. Combined with medias insistent push of healthier and thinner the potential for development increases as young minds become focused on obtaining the "elusive" ideal body image.

Obviously healthy food is not bad for you. A healthy diet and lifestyle can be crucial in the development of a happy and fulfilling life. However promoting health and promoting an idealized view of thinness are two very different things and when tied together create the potential for distorted perceptions of not only beauty but health and well being as well.

Stephan Bratman MD, original website can be reached under the sites used section for more information, click Orthorexia Homepage.

Other works,
Foreyt, PhD, John. "Pursuit of the Elusive Ideal Body Image." Editorial. Nutrition Today May-June 2010. Web. 9 Mar.2011
Kratina, PhD, Karin. "Orthorexia Nervosa." National Eating Disorder Association 2006. Web. 9 Mar. 2011