orexi-, orex-, -orexia, -orexic, -oretic, -orectic, -rexia +

An appetite.

A reference to or a descriptive word for "appetite".

1. A medicine which diminishes appetite.
2. Diminishing the sharpness of appetite.

Stimulating the appetite.

1. A compulsion to eat or an excessive appetite for food.
2. An enormous increase in food consumption as a result of fearing that one is too thin.
3. The consumption of enormous quantities of food motivated by a fear of losing weight.

A reference to "appetite".

Instead of having an obsessive desire to lose weight, sufferers from orthorexia apparently have an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating.

In their search for dietary purity, they may become so restrictive about what they eat that they become as dangerously thin as an anorexic; for example, they may over do the avoidance of fatty foods, those with preservatives, and those with salt or sugar; to such a degree that there are very few choices available.

Source of the term orthorexia nervosa

The word, and the identification of the condition, is attributed to a Colorado specialist, Dr. Steven Bratman, who published a book on the subject. He coined orthorexia in 1997 (based on the pattern of anorexia) which comes from Greek orthos, "correct" or "right" plus orexis, "appetite". The word is beginning to appear in the United States and Britain, largely as a result of his book.

Most often, orthorexia is merely a source of psychological distress, not a physical danger. However, emaciation is common among followers of certain health food diets; such as, "raw foodism", and this can at times reach the extremes seen in anorexia nervosa.

Such "anorexic orthorexia" is just as dangerous as anorexia; however, the underlying motivation is quite different. While an anorexic wants to lose weight, an orthorexic wants to feel pure, healthy and natural. Eating disorder specialists may fail to understand this distinction, leading to a disconnect between orthorexic and physician.

A perversion of appetite with a desire for abnormal foods; such as, worms.

A loss of appetite because of distress which follows or accompanies eating.

1. An older term for pica or an appetite for and the eating of matter which is not fit as food for humans; such as, sand, clay, or paint.
2. An eating disorder manifested by a craving to ingest any material not fit for food, including starch, clay, ashes, toy balloons, crayons, cotton, grass, cigarette butts, soap, twigs, wood, paper, metal, or plaster.

• This condition is seen in pregnancy, chlorosis, hysteria, helminthiasis, and certain psychotic situations.
• It may also be associated with iron-deficiency anemia.
• The importance of this condition, the etiology (cause) of which is unknown, stems from the toxicity of ingested material (e.g., paint that contains lead) or from ingesting materials in place of essential nutrients.
• The inclusion of compulsive ingestion of nonfood and food items; such as, licorice, croutons, chewing gum, coffee grounds, or oyster shells as examples of pica is controversial.