Orthorexia nervosa: How becoming obsessed with healthy eating can lead to malnutrition

[progressoid]

Orthorexia nervosa, a term coined in 1997 by Dr Steven Bratman, is a fixation with healthy eating, to the point where it becomes a crippling compulsion, described as “a disease disguised as a virtue”.

It differs from eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia in that the goal is not usually to become thin. In fact, ironically, sufferers are initially motivated by a desire to be well, and to consume pure, “clean” foods, often to recover from illness.

One high-profile sufferer is Jordan Younger, who became a poster girl for health with her New York food blog. The Blonde Vegan had become a successful brand, spawning an app and even a clothing line featuring slogans such as “Oh Kale Yes!” A fervent believer in “clean eating”, Younger shared her advice on detoxing and juicing (she would regularly embark on 10-day cleanses) with her 100,000-plus Instagram followers.

Despite seemingly glowing with health, Younger was struggling. Her lethargy increased and her periods stopped. She also began to be anxious about her routine, panicking when faced with eating a meal she hadn’t planned, or something that didn’t fit in with her rules. Younger gradually began to realise that there was something distinctly unhealthy about her restrictive diet.

...

Younger eventually began a long process of therapy and shifting to a more balanced way of eating, reintroducing eggs, fish and organic chicken, and renaming her brand The Balanced Blonde. It was no easy transition, as she faced a huge backlash and even death threats from some of her fans.

more...http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/orthorexia-nervosa-how-becoming-obsessed-with-healthy-eating-can-lead-to-malnutrition-10479149.html

[KT2000]

1. besides that -

the healthy diet obsessed are boring to be around. All they talk about is food and how it affects them. It appears to be a very small world to live in.

[Warpy]

2. I've seen a lot of those. The saddest ones

are the morality obsessed who have steadfastly refused to learn how to cook, turning themselves into junkfood vegetarians or junkfood Paleo dieters.

You can maintain good health on nearly all the morality diets but you have to know what you're doing and you do have to know how to cook, the latter being the real key.

Otherwise, you're just going to be another ghostly pale bag of bones haunting the aisle of the local health food store, off putting to anyone who wants to eat better without the heavy handed morality, thanks.