ORTHOREXIA

In full, orthorexia nervosa, showing its close link to the much better-known psychological condition anorexia nervosa. Instead of an obsessive desire to lose weight, those who suffer from orthorexia have an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. In their search for dietary purity, they may become so restrictive about what they eat — for example, avoiding fatty foods, those containing preservatives, those with salt or sugar — that eventually they become as dangerously thin as an anorexic. The word, and the identification of the condition, is attributable to a Colorado specialist, Dr Steven Bratman, who has recently published a book on the subject. He coined orthorexia in 1997 on the pattern of anorexia, from Greek orthos, “correct or right”, plus orexis, “appetite”. Though the word is beginning to appear in the US and Britain, largely as a result of his book, it is not a recognised medical condition.

“I have no numbers, but orthorexic behavior is probably as common as the other eating disorders. Perhaps more common, as it is less extreme and promoted as allegedly good behavior,” says Thomas E. Billings, a vegetarian for more than 30 years and whose Web site is a forum for former food fanatics.

USA Weekend, Jan. 2001

Whereas anorexia nervosa and bulimia are afflictions that involve an obsession with the quantity of food consumed, orthorexia nervosa occurs when the victim becomes obsessed, explains Bratman, “not with the quantity of food eaten but the quality of food.”

Toronto Star, Dec. 2000

World Wide Words is copyright © Michael Quinion, 1996–2009. All rights reserved. Contact me if you want to reproduce this piece, but first see my advice page, which also has notes about linking. Your comments and corrections are welcome.