Understanding orthorexia: The unofficial diagnosis with real risks

People with orthorexia have an extreme obsession with eating healthy foods.

Published on: September 25, 2024
Last updated: April 18, 2025
Understanding orthorexia: The unofficial diagnosis with real risks
Key Takeaways
  • Orthorexia is a type of disordered eating that involves restrictive eating habits, ritualized patterns of eating, and an obsession with “healthy” foods. 

  • Although it’s not a medically recognized condition, orthorexia can significantly impact people’s health and quality of life. 

  • Similar to most eating disorders, orthorexia can be managed with a combination of talk therapy, nutritional counseling, and lifestyle changes.

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “too much of a good thing?” That’s one way to look at a disordered eating pattern known as orthorexia. People with orthorexia have a disruptive fixation on healthy eating. Plenty of people do their best to make nutritious food choices, but people with orthorexia are obsessed with following a “pure” diet, often at the cost of their own mental health.

The term “orthorexia” was first coined in the 1990s and is now thought to affect approximately 30% of people across the globe. Although orthorexia isn’t officially considered a distinct eating disorder, it’s well recognized by healthcare professionals as a problem that can impact people’s health and quality of life.

How to recognize orthorexia

While eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder affect the amount of food you eat, orthorexia focuses primarily on the types of food you eat. People with orthorexia have an obsession with nutritious eating and an extreme aversion to foods that they deem unhealthy.

Other common signs of orthorexia include:

  • Compulsively checking nutritional labels and ingredient lists

  • Excessively eliminating certain foods groups, like dairy or carbs

  • Unusual interest in the health of what others are eating

  • High levels of perfectionism

  • Frequent concerns about body image

  • Excessive concern or anxiety about what food might be served at social events

  • High levels of stress when healthy foods aren’t available

  • Extreme guilt when you can’t maintain your dietary standards

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What causes orthorexia?

Anyone can develop orthorexia, but there are several risk factors that may increase your chances.

Can clean eating become a problem?

Following a healthy diet offers countless health benefits, including stronger bones, better immunity, and a lower risk of certain chronic diseases. But for people with orthorexia, their obsession with optimal health can cause significant issues with daily living.

To start, a restrictive diet can lead to physical health problems like severe weight loss, gastrointestinal issues, and malnutrition. Orthorexia can cause mental health concerns too, with some research associating orthorexia with low self-esteem and increased anxiety. It’s also been shown to impact people’s quality of life by causing problems at work, school, and with interpersonal relationships.

Orthorexia treatment approaches

Similar to other eating disorders, treating orthorexia requires a multidisciplinary approach to care. The goal is to combine talk therapy, nutritional counseling, and lifestyle changes to help people learn to trust their bodies, practice balanced eating, and develop a more positive relationship with food.

Find care with Rula

It’s not always easy to recognize and change unhelpful eating habits. However, it is possible to manage the condition with access to the right resources and support, starting with a qualified mental health professional.

At Rula, we connect you with a therapist who accepts your insurance so you can get the support you need. With Rula’s easy-to-use therapist-matching program, you can find the right provider for your needs in less than 30 seconds and begin treatment as soon as tomorrow.

Alex Bachert
About the author

Alex Bachert

Alex Bachert is a freelance copywriter and mental health advocate. Since earning her masters degree in public health, she has focused her career on creating informative content that empowers people to prioritize their health and well-being. Alex has partnered with organizations like Ro, WellTheory, and Firsthand, and her work has been recognized by the Digital Health Association.

When she’s not writing about mental health, Alex is usually playing pickleball, meeting with her local board of health, or enjoying time with her three kids.

Lolly Coleman, MS, LMFT
About the clinical reviewer

Lolly Coleman, MS, LMFT

Lolly Coleman, LMFT, has 15 years of experience in the mental health field. She is a practicing therapist and has operated her own private practice for the past nine years. Lolly has clinical experience with numerous populations and has specific specialty in anxiety, depression, self-harm, geriatrics including dementia, and autism.

Lolly's passion for the field is personally fueled, wanting to create a better system for the people she loves. In her free time she enjoys leisurely time at coffee shops and exploring nature with her family.

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Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.

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