When picky eating takes over from ‘good’ dieting

While obesity is rapidly becoming one of Ireland’s biggest health problems, we can’t afford to overlook the other end of the spectrum: that section of society obsessed with ‘good’ food.

The term orthorexia nervosa was first coined by Californian doctor Stephen Bratman in 1997. Coming from the Greek word ortho, meaning straight or correct, it describes an unhealthy obsession with healthy or righteous eating.

Orthorexics will spend just as much time and energy ...