Orthorexia: anorexia in disguise? Living in Boulder, Colorado, one gets used to the myriad of food restrictions people impose on themselves in the name of good health. Those with allergies (assumed or diagnosed), food sensitivities or other health, environmental or political concerns around consumption flourish in this small bubble on earth that many describe as 25 square miles surrounded by reality. However, some have stated that there is a deadly trend emerging called orthorexia where people take the concept of healthy eating much too far. Is this trend really a new illness or is it merely anorexia in disguise?

Orthorexia is a term coined by a Colorado MD, Steven Bratman. He describes those with orthorexia as overly concerned or obsessed with "correct" or "righteous" eating. This can include a fixation on eliminating fats, processed sugar, and additives from the diet. The supposed goal of an orthorexic is to feel pure, not to lose weight. Though Bratman states that anorexia and orthorexia are two very different illnesses, there comes a point where one must ask if this new term is just a mask for an underlying case of anorexia.

There are many people in the world who eat what most would consider a pure diet. For example, there are people who eat only organic, raw, whole foods. Simply put, one can eat as pure a diet as one wants without suffering extreme, life threatening weight loss. Both anorexics and orthorexics become afraid to eat certain foods. The fact that orthorexics become phobic of what many in the health food industry deem "bad" or "unhealthy" doesn't take away from the fact that it becomes an irrational thinking pattern that ultimately harms the individual. Nearly anyone in a state of starvation would opt to eat something, even if it were in not their top choice of foods. In fact, in severe states of starvation, many would resort to even eating unappetizing foods in order to stay alive. For example, my mother ate raw eggs during the war to stay alive. Those with orthorexia become so rigid in their food intake, that many have often starved themselves rather than bend their own self imposed rules around food. This screams of classic anorexic behavior. However, not to discount the very subtle differences in the two illnesses, it should be recognized that orthorexics really do see themselves as doing something healthy, despite the harmful consequences.

In some cases, an anorexic will go to great lengths to lose weight and practice what everyone widely accepts as truly unhealthy behavior including, over exercising, taking drugs and severely restricting food intake. Those with orthorexia, on the other hand, may find drugs too impure to consume. Their true goal is not specifically weight loss. It is, rather, to become pure. In many cases, this pureness in eating becomes what the orthorexic sees as a path to spiritual enlightenment. This being said, the fact that orthorexics sacrifice their own health leads one to believe that it is more of an offshoot of anorexia rather than an actual completely new illness. Orthorexia can be seen as similar to any other eating disorder in that it interferes with a person's lifestyle and overall health, affecting normal functioning and general wellbeing. In severe cases, the extreme dietary restrictions of orthorexia can even lead to death as documented on the website, Beyond Vegetarianism. On the website, an in depth description of Kate Finn's life and tragic death due to orthorexia is presented.

Though some claim there is a very real distinction between anorexia and orthorexia, there is no question that the two are both deadly eating disorders. Whether or not there is enough of a distinction between orthorexia and anorexia to classify orthorexia as a new illness, is debatable. The bottom line is that orthorexia, just like anorexia, can lead to extreme emaciation, health problems and even death. The focus should be more on recovery from the illness not on the label itself. It is no secret that anorexics can be manipulative, controlling and irrational. The concern with adding a new term to what most consider an offshoot of anorexia, is that anorexics will use it in order to stay in a state of denial or in order to try to avoid getting the help they need. Anytime a person becomes irrationally afraid to eat, it should be recognized that this is a symptom of anorexia. There are beautiful examples of people all over the world who truly dedicate themselves to eating the healthiest diet imaginable who are not in a state of starvation. To imply that a focus on eating healthy is an illness is backward thinking. It should be recognized that any extreme restriction in food intake to the point of harming health and wellbeing is and should be classified as anorexia.


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