Orthorexia in the News: An Eating Disorder That's Part of a Growing American Problem

Recent news reports are asking: "Is healthy eating bad for you?" More and more Americans are finding that it is, because they are taking it to an extreme. Colorado alternative medicine physician Steven Bratman called it in 1997 'orthorexia', from the Greek for "correct eating." Like its sister condition, anorexia nervosa, orthorexia involves controlling your life through obsessively controlling the food you eat.

The news media, which have been held responsible by many for making both conditions more popular as they promote diets and weight concerns (anorexia) or fear of cancer, impurities and disease in our food (orthorexia) are now also promoting fear of these same conditions. Awareness of the role the media plays leads to the key to both conditions and a number of others including "green obsession:" rampant anxiety in our society today, and a feeling of being "out of control."

To make matters worse, local, state and federal governments are stepping in to further promote fear and control with legislative 'solutions' to 'problems' that the media promotes. "French fry laws" may sound good, but they may also be a sign of how widespread the anxiety and need to control is.

For orthorexia, the solution to anxious feelings is to control the source and type of foods consumed. The outcome is often similar to anorexia, both in the social isolation and the dramatic weight loss, which in the case of both conditions can endanger a person's life.

The ancient wisdom that "anything taken to extremes is bad for you" applies to anorexia, orthorexia and a host of other out-of-control control behaviors. Moderation has been the key since the ancient Greeks, but in America if something sells and is trendy, they sell it hard. One of the keys to selling is to make consumers believe that "everyone is (or should be) doing it," a common concept in shows like the Oprah Winfrey show, which keeps its viewers hopping from trend to trend.

The city of Boulder, Colorado, known for healthy lifestyles, might also be the national capital for the unhealthy pursuit of health. For some the city is an oasis where the "right stuff" is readily available for the dinner table, home construction, vehicle fueling and just about anything else that can be 'organic', 'green', or 'eco-friendly'.

What that means is that it takes a drive to a shopping center to find one of the city's two McDonald's restaurants if you happen to have a craving. While that may sound like utopia, it's hard to find balance if your choices are already restricted for you by government, socially or by family.

Orthorexia is not yet a recognized medical condition, it is combined with anorexia nervosa. Naming the problem is, however, a great way to recognize that even 'healthy' becomes 'unhealthy' simply by taking it to extremes. To head off these and other conditions, just make sure your thinking is 'reasonable moderation,' not 'zero tolerance.' Most of all - make sure you enjoy life!

"The Orthorexia Home Page", http://www.orthorexia.com

"Who is Steven Bratman?", http://www.orthorexia.com/index.php?page=Bratman

"Anorexia Nervosa", http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000362.htm