Orthorexia
ˌɔrθəˈrɛksiə or ˌɔrθoʊˈrɛksiə
An unhealthy obsession with eating only foods perceived as pure, clean or healthy, leading to restrictive behaviors, nutritional deficiencies and impaired quality of life
Full Explanation
Orthorexia, full name orthorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder characterized by an extreme fixation on food quality and "righteous eating" that becomes psychologically and physically harmful.
Unlike anorexia, which focuses on quantity and weight, orthorexia centers on food purity and healthfulness. Individuals with orthorexia develop rigid dietary rules, often eliminating entire food groups based on perceived contamination or unworthiness.
This obsession progresses beyond health consciousness to consume excessive time, cause severe anxiety when "safe" foods aren't available and damage social relationships. Such people experience intense guilt when violating self-imposed rules and may feel moral superiority over others' food choices.
Ironically, the pursuit of optimal health often results in malnutrition, social isolation, and deteriorating mental health. The condition frequently emerges from wellness culture, clean eating movements and social media influence.
Why It Matters
Orthorexia represents a critical intersection of wellness culture, mental health and nutrition. As clean eating trends proliferate through social media, more people, especially young adults develop disordered relationships with food disguised as health consciousness. Recognition helps clinicians intervene earlier, distinguishes healthy eating from pathological obsession and challenges the wellness industry's role in promoting potentially harmful behaviors as optimal health.
Example
Someone's orthorexia could began innocently with cutting out processed foods, then escalate until they'd only eat organic, raw vegetables from specific farms. They stopped dining with friends, spent hours researching food sourcing and developed severe nutritional deficiencies despite believing they are "perfectly healthy.
Common Misconceptions
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"It's just being health-conscious". Orthorexia is pathological and prevents normal functioning of the body; healthy eating doesn't cause distress, isolation or malnutrition
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"More restriction equals better health". Orthorexia often leads to nutritional deficiencies and worse health outcomes
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"It's not as serious as anorexia or bulimia". Orthorexia can cause severe malnutrition, mental health decline and requires urgent professional treatment