Tag: Orthorexia nervosa

In the late 1990s, physician Dr. Steven Bratman coined the term *orthorexia nervosa* after observing patients with a pathological obsession for healthy eating. This condition highlights the fine line between mindful nutrition and a restrictive, damaging focus on food 'purity'.

First coined in 1997, the term orthorexia nervosa describes a pathological obsession with consuming foods perceived as 'healthy' or 'pure'. This preoccupation goes beyond a healthy lifestyle choice, becoming a rigid and distressing pattern of disordered eating.

While a balanced diet is crucial for health, approximately three out of ten people exhibit symptoms of orthorexia nervosa, an eating disorder defined by an obsessive fixation on consuming only "healthy" or "pure" foods. This intense and rigid focus can lead to negative consequences that paradoxically harm a person's physical and mental well-being.

In 1997, American physician Dr. Steven Bratman coined the term "orthorexia nervosa" in an article for *Yoga Journal*. This term was created to describe a condition of unhealthy fixation on eating what one considers to be healthy or pure food, which he observed among his patients.

An estimated 21% to 57.6% of the general population engage in orthorexic behaviors. The term for a damaging obsession with healthy eating is called orthorexia nervosa, a complex condition where the pursuit of dietary purity paradoxically compromises one's overall well-being.

A crucial fact about orthorexia is its exclusion from the official Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), even though it is widely acknowledged by clinicians as a debilitating form of disordered eating. This obsessive preoccupation with 'healthy' or 'pure' eating can cause significant distress and medical complications, highlighting the gap between clinical recognition and formal diagnostic status.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, orthorexia is characterized by an obsessive focus on eating "pure" or "clean" foods. When a preoccupation with health becomes so extreme it negatively affects one's life, what is it called when you only eat healthy food? This condition is known as orthorexia nervosa.

According to a 2023 meta-analysis, up to three out of 10 people studied displayed symptoms of orthorexia nervosa. Orthorexic tendency refers to a disordered eating pattern characterized by an obsessive focus on consuming only 'clean' or 'healthy' foods, often leading to significant health and social consequences. What starts as a benign interest in nutrition can evolve into a rigid, life-consuming preoccupation with dietary purity.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), an obsession with 'healthy eating' that negatively impacts a person's life can be a sign of a condition called orthorexia nervosa. While a conscious effort to eat nutritiously is generally beneficial, it crosses into disordered territory when the fixation becomes extreme and damaging. This article explores what you call a person who only eats healthy food, delving into the nuances that distinguish a health-conscious individual from someone struggling with this form of disordered eating.

While fruits are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, consuming only fruits leads to severe nutritional deficiencies and serious health risks. Is it okay to live just by eating fruits? Experts and science agree that this highly restrictive diet is not a sustainable or healthy choice.