Eating disorder

Orthorexia: When unhealthy foods become scary

 

In honor of the draft release of new DSM-5 criteria, I was inspired to discuss a new disorder that is just beginning to receive empirical support. I came across a recent article on Time.com that introduced Orthorexia by talking about Kristie Rutzel, a young lady that wanted to start eating healthier by cutting out processed foods. Kristie enjoyed her healthier eating so much that she began restricting herself to whole foods and later 100% organic foods. Within several years, Kristie had placed herself on a strict raw-foods diet that plummeted her weight down to 68 lbs and lead to symptoms of anemia and osteopenia.