Orthorexia: An Obsession with Eating Pure ... Dedication to eating healthfully doesn't seem harmful to most people. But, for some, a fixation on ...HomeHealthDiseasesandConditionsEatingDisordersOrthorexia:AnObsessionwithEatingPureRossHelen/iStock/ThinkstockDedicationtoeatinghealthfullydoesn'tseemharmfultomostpeople.But,forsome,afixationonhealthyeatingdevelopsintoanobsession.Ifsomeonerefusestoeatfoodthatisnot"pure"andstartsavoidingfoodstheyoncelovedorentirefoodgroups,theymaybesufferingfromadisorderedeatingpatterncalledorthorexia.WhatisOrthorexia?Whilethereiscurrentlynoformalcriteriafordiagnosingorthorexia,itisgenerallyinterpretedasanunhealthyfixationoneating“pure”foods.Originallyidentifiedasadisorderedeatingbehaviorinthe'90s,expertsbelieveithasbeengainingsteaminrecentyears,fedbyfoodmarketingclaimsandbythemedia'softenconflictingdietaryadvice.Likeanorexianervosa,orthorexiaisadisorderrootedinfoodrestriction.Unlikeanorexia,forpeoplewithorthorexia,thefocusisgenerallyonthequalityinsteadofthequantityoffoodbeingrestricted.AccordingtotheNationalEatingDisordersAssociation(NEDA),possiblewarningsignsoforthorexiaincludecompulsivecheckingofingredientslistsandNutritionFactsLabels,cuttingoutanincreasingnumberoffoodsorfoodgroups,showinghighlevelsofdistresswhen"healthy"foodsaren'tavailable,andobsessivelyfollowing"healthylifestyle"socialmediaaccountsandblogs.Followingacertaindietortryingtoeathealthydoesn’tnecessarilymeansomeonehasorthorexia.But,whenabehaviorturnsintoafixationorobsessionitmaybeareasonforconcern.Aswithanypatternofdisorderedeating,orthorexiacaninterferewithanindividual’smentalandphysicalhealth.Inseverecases,orthorexiamayleadtomalnutritionwhencriticalnutrientsareeliminatedfromthediet.AnIsolatingDisorderSharingamealisoneofthekeywayswesocializeandbondinsociety.Butforpeoplesufferingfromorthorexia,afamilymealcanseemlikeaminefield.Eatingfoodthattheydon'tconsiderpure,orthatsomeoneelsehasprepared,cancauseanextremeamountofanxiety.Someonesufferingfromorthorexiamaynotenjoyfoodinthes