Orthorexia can lead to other serious illnesses
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Health professionals are worried about the numbers of young people who are suffering from orthorexia
The pressure to look good and eat well has caused some young people to take it to dangerous levels.
Orthorexia is cause by an obsession with eating only healthy foods. Sufferers can become obsessed with what they eat, which can sometimes lead to them completely cutting out food groups and combining their strict diet with excessive exercise.
Although the disorder is not very well known, it can lead to other serious illnesses like anorexia and bulimia.
The National Center for Eating Disorders (NCFED) said that young people are most at risk of suffering from orthorexia.
They are concerned that young people will become hooked on ‘fad’ diets that they read about in magazines and on the internet.
Deanne Jade, a psychologist and eating disorder specialist for NCFED, said, ‘Orthorexia is a disorder not many people are familiar with. It’s not just a wish to eat in a healthy way, it’s something that increasingly dominates your life.’
She also added, ‘I call orthorexia the first cousin of anorexia. The people who show signs of orthorexia could go on to develop other illnesses and have serious health problems.’
By Lauren King
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