orthorexia

What Is Orthorexia?

Orthorexia Nervosa is a form of disordered eating characterized by going to extremes in pursuit of a so-called healthy diet. Literally translated, it means "fixation on righteous eating." A person with this condition obsesses over the quality of the foods they eat, in an attempt to perfect his or her diet.

Some traits include:

Spending considerable time--often 3 or more hours per day--thinking about healthful foods and planning what to eat. 

Experiencing guilt, fear or self-loathing when straying from this diet.

Placing the virtue of the food above the pleasure of eating it.

Sacrificing relationships and once-enjoyed activities in order to eat the "right" foods.

Gaining self-esteem and a sense of control from eating healthy foods.

Looking down on others who don't eat the same way.

Becoming socially isolated in order to follow an eating plan.

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