Orthorexia

Orthorexia is an eating disorder characterized by a mania and obsession with healthy eating. Sufferers are completely obsessed with the idea of eating only high-quality foods. Orthorexia is defined as a pathological drive to eat specific types of food: natural, plant-based, without preservatives, without fat, and without red meat.

Orthorexics are willing to travel all over the city to find a specific food or will refuse to eat if they are not certain that what is offered meets their definition of healthy food. They don’t mind paying a higher price for foods that fit their criteria and beliefs. This obsession deprives the individual of important and necessary nutrients, which can lead to a number of diseases.

Orthorexia is not yet officially recognized as a psychological disorder. However, when compared to anorexia and bulimia, it is clearly a pathological condition from the same group. The only difference is that instead of focusing on the quantity of food, the mind of the person suffering is focused on its quality.