A proper diet and active sports are part of most people's idea of a he althy lifestyle. But like anything, too much of it can harm you. The obsessive desire to eat he althy is a disease state and is called orthorexia nervosa. This eating disorder was recently discovered - mostly affects women around and over 30 People with orthorexia usually refuse to eat entire food groups such as dairy or pasta, often due to the mistaken belief that the food in question is not is he althy or that their body just doesn't accept it. In this way, they give up vital nutrients and vitaminsAt the same time, they overdo their workouts at the gym, which makes them feel more exhausted.
Sometimes orthorexics start with strict diets - they accept certain foods depending on their blood type or follow a diet that is fashionable at the moment like the Dukan diet for example. According to the doctors, this is a risk for the patient's he alth and relationships with other people - he refuses to eat at his friends' homes or in restaurants where he thinks the food is harmful.
The main difference between orthorexia and other common eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia is that it is not necessarily important for sufferers to lose weight, but they end up losing pounds because of their distorted idea that they lead a he althy lifestyle.
The medical term orthorexia was coined by Californian doctor Steven Bratman, who combined the Greek "orthos" meaning "correct" with "orexis" - appetite.
