Orthorexia nervosa

Orthorexia, or orthorexia nervosa is a term coined by Dr. Steven Bratman, a Colorado specialist, to denote what he considers to be an eating disorder characterized by a "fixation" on eating healthful food.

Bratman coined the term in 1997 from the Greek orthos, "correct or right", and orexis for "appetite". Literally "correct appetite", the word is modeled on anorexia, "without appetite". Bratman describes orthorexia as an unhealthy obsession with what the sufferer considers to be healthy eating. The subject may avoid certain foods, such as those containing fats, preservatives, or animal products.

Although the word is entering the English lexicon, the psychiatric community has not officially recognized the condition. Bratman's concept has been widely criticized by those who feel that focusing on healthful diet is generally beneficial and does not indicate a mental imbalance. A first scientific study on the subject was published in 2004.