Too much of anything is bad and we all know it. Even then we, sometimes, fall in this trap. Now, take the case of "Orthorexia Nervosa" - the latest eating disorder doing the rounds. This disease is basically "an obsession with eating healthy food", in other words, a quirky eating habit, which, just like Anorexia Nervosa, has forced the public health advocates to press the panic button.

Change in Attitude

We all would love to eat healthy, right? But to what extent, is the million-dollar question and going by the examples around us, the answer is enough to terrify even the most cynical. Scientists claim that people, who eat in the quirky manner of Orthorexicity, are making abnormal seem normal. Psychologists like Deanne Jade, who is founder of the National Centre for Eating Disorders in Britain, are worried because "the attachment to strange eating systems and theories is now supported by a thriving industry and gives people a sense of status."

Late Bloomer

It has been more than a decade since people started succumbing to Orthorexia, although it is only now that it is being recognized as a disorder in the medical circles. While some health experts believe that this disorder is just another form of the dreaded OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), others feel that the "less intense" forms of Orthorexia are nothing to worry about. The only difference between Orthorexia and other eating disorders like Anorexia and Bulimia is that patients of Orthorexia are obsessed about eating the "right foods." Orthorexics think about the final effect of the food their are eating and also the way their food is being cooked and served.

Indirect Attack

Although doctors as well as psychiatrists assure that Orthorexia itself is not much of a threat but it may lead to other problems, or eating disorders like Anorexia itself because the person may gradually stop eating anything altogether in absence of the 'right foods.' A study, conducted by the University of Rome to ascertain the prevalence of Orthorexia, revealed that higher number of people displayed Orthorexic behaviour than Anorexic or Bulimic. What is a troubling thought is the fact that most of the Orthorexics do not believe that they need any help, making them invisible on the medical radar.

Conclusion

We all agree that eating healthy is important but ultimately, it is about eating comfortably and if you obsess too much about what you are going to eat, you will lose out on precious moments of life, which you should, otherwise, enjoy with your family and yourself. So, think, but just don't think too much.

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