Major differences: Anorexia dietary restrictions can cause malnutrition an & emaciation of the victims, & even death. It is believed that orthrexia could be as serious as anorexia, but the motivation is very different. An anorexic wants to be thin and lose weight, a sufferer of Orthorexia only wants to be healthy & pure. They maintain purity by feeding themselves only pure foods. Also it should be noted that Orthorexia, despite the clear symptoms, is not an official medical diagnosis, unlike Anorexia which is a definitive diagnosis.
Answered 6/24/2014
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They are similar: People struggling with anorexia are preoccupied with their bodies and their weight. They may take pleasure from restricting and resist changing that behavior. Those with orthorexia are preoccupied with and focused on the purity of the food they eat, rather than on their bodies. I find that both anorexic and orthorexic patients have more of a relationship to their bodies than to other people.
Answered 10/29/2015
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