Orthorexia

Orthorexia refers to the condition characterized by excessive focus on eating healthy foods. In rare cases, this focus may turn into a fixation so extreme that it can lead to severe malnutrition or even death. The term Orthorexia was caused by Steven Bratman from the Greek orthos, "correct or right", and orexis for "appetite" thus making Orthorexia mean "correct Appetite."

Steve Bratman says that "Obsession with healthy food can progress to the point where it crowds out other activities and interests, impairs relationships, and even becomes physically dangerous. When this happens, orthorexia takes on the dimensions of a true eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa or bulimia".

Most often, orthorexia is merely a source of psychological distress, not a physical danger. However, emaciation is common among followers of certain health food diets, such raw foodism, and this can at times reach the extremes seen in anorexia nervosa. Eating disorder specialists may fail to understand this distinction, leading to a disconnect between orthorexic and physician.