Do you really know? What is orthorexia, the disorder which sees healthy eating go too far?
Dec 12, 2025
Explore the intriguing concept of orthorexia, a fixation on healthy eating that can spiral into obsession. Learn how it differs from traditional eating disorders, focusing more on food quality than quantity. Discover the obsessive behaviors and rituals that can lead to anxiety and even malnutrition. The Bratman test helps gauge if you have this condition, even though it's not formally recognized as a separate eating disorder. Uncover the fine line between healthy eating and harmful obsession!
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When Healthy Eating Becomes An Obsession
- Orthorexia is an obsession with food purity that crosses from healthy eating into pathological behaviour.
- Joseph Chance explains the term and its origin from Dr Stephen Bratman in 1997.
Quality Over Quantity Drives The Disorder
- Orthorexia focuses on food quality rather than quantity, unlike some other eating disorders.
- Dr Casey Goodpaster notes the disorder causes distress when people can't follow restrictive diets.
Rituals, Control And Real Physical Harm
- Orthorexia can mimic OCD with rituals and rigid rules about food.
- The condition often removes pleasure from eating and may cause malnutrition and weight loss.