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 ...and questioning medical authority for health sakes!
Have you ever heard of the word orthorexia? This word was new to me and I did a little research to uncover its origin. It turns out that this recent term was coined by a Denver doctor named Steven Bratman and is used to describe people obsessed with health food.
Orthorexic patients, according to Dr. Bratman, are fixated on “righteous eating” (the word stems from the Greek word ortho, meaning straight and correct). This doctor asserts that those displaying orthoexia may avoid certain foods, such as those containing fats, preservatives, animal products, or other ingredients considered by the subject to be unhealthy; if the dietary restrictions are too severe or improperly managed, malnutrition can result.
Bratman has also asserted that "emaciation is common among followers of certain health food diets, such as raw foodism, and this can at times reach the extremes seen in anorexia nervosa." In addition, he claims that "anorexic orthorexia" can be as dangerous as anorexia. However, he states, "the underlying motivation is quite different. While an anorexic wants to lose weight, an orthorexic wants to feel pure, healthy and natural.
I realize that there are oppressive compulsive disorders and that anything in extreme can be damaging both physically and mentally. But I must say, this seems like a strange place to focus medical attention and efforts. A close family member of mine is a retired physician, he shared that in all of his training he had very limited training in nutrition. There is a direct relationship to what we put into our bodies and our health.
With the information age we live in, with the resources available, with documentaries and books it is difficult not to be aware of effects that whole, unprocessed, organic foods have on our health. Not to mention the environmental damages large scale factory farming has resulted in (that may be another blog). In my view we can no longer claim ignorance of the benefits of conscious eating (vegetarianism, raw foodism, a focus on eating organic unprocessed foods) we can only claim indifference.
The results of a disciplined diet, coupled with exercise are clear and lead to what Dr. Bratman cited as wanting to “feel pure, healthy, and natural”. Should this really be a category of a disorder? In extreme cases I could see this, but in a nation that is overweight and under-exercised this seems to be a strange place to put your efforts.
We are what we eat...choose wisely!
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Ashley Marriott has been a professional in the field of fitness for more than 14 years. She is the creator of Burn ‘N Firm, a popular DVD full body cardio dance workout series. She is dedicated to using her experience and energy to educate and encourage people to reach their fitness goals. Her dedication to empower others through fitness led her to write the book, Dump Your Trainer.
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