Anorexia nervosa and orthorexia nervosa are both eating disorders, but they have some important differences.
Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental health disorder characterized by a distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight. Individuals with anorexia nervosa may severely restrict their calorie intake, engage in excessive exercise, and exhibit other behaviors such as purging or using laxatives to lose weight. Anorexia nervosa can lead to serious physical health complications, including malnutrition, organ failure, and even death.
Orthorexia nervosa, on the other hand, is a relatively new term used to describe an obsession with eating only "healthy" foods. While individuals with orthorexia may also restrict their calorie intake, their primary focus is on the quality and purity of the food they consume, rather than the quantity. This can lead to an unhealthy preoccupation with food and anxiety around meal planning and preparation. Unlike anorexia nervosa, orthorexia nervosa is not currently recognized as a diagnosable mental health disorder, but it can still have negative impacts on an individual's physical and mental health.
In summary, anorexia nervosa is characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight and severe calorie restriction, while orthorexia nervosa is characterized by an obsession with healthy eating and a focus on the quality of food consumed rather than the quantity. Both disorders can have serious consequences for an individual's health and well-being.