WhatWeTreatOrthorexiaThosewhohavean"unhealthyobsession"withotherwisehealthyeatingmaybesufferingfrom"orthorexianervosa,"atermwhichliterallymeans"fixationonrighteouseating."(NEDA.)Orthorexiastartsoutasaninnocentattempttoeatmorehealthfully,butorthorexicsbecomefixatedonfoodqualityandpurity.Theybecomesolelyconcernedwiththequalityofthefoodtheyputintheirbodies,refiningandrestrictingtheirdietsaccordingtotheirpersonalunderstandingofwhichfoodsaretruly'pure'.Theybecomeconsumedwithwhatandhowmuchtoeat,andhowtodealwith"slip-ups."Aniron-cladwillisneededtomaintainthisrigideatingstyle.Everydayisachancetoeatright,be"good,"riseaboveothersindietaryprowess,andself-punishiftemptationwins(usuallythroughstrictereating,fastsandexercise).Self-esteembecomeswrappedupinthepurityoforthorexics'dietsandtheysometimesfeelsuperiortoothers,especiallyinregardtofoodintake.Eventuallyfoodchoicesbecomesorestrictive,inbothvarietyandcalories,thathealthiscompromised—anironictwistforapersonsocompletelydedicatedtohealthyeating.Eventually,theobsessionwithhealthyeatingcancrowdoutotheractivitiesandinterests,impairrelationships,andbecomephysicallydangerous.Thefocusmayturnintoafixationsoextremethatitcanleadtoseveremalnutritionorevendeath.Orthorexiadiffersfromothereatingdisorders,suchasanorexianervosaandbulimianervosa,wherepeoplefocusonthequantityoffoodeatenratherthanthequalityofthefood.AreYouTellingMeIt'sNotHealthytoFollowaHealthyDiet?Followingahealthydietdoesnotmeanyouareorthorexic,andnothingiswrongwitheatinghealthfully.Unless:itistakingupaninordinateamountoftimeandattentioninyourlife;deviatingfromthatdietismetwithguiltandself-loathingitisusedtoavoidlifeissuesandleavesyouseparateandalone.Orthorexia:TheDirtyDownsideof"Clean"EatingVegetarian,vegan,low-carb,raw,paleo—allclaimtobethe"ideal"diet,andadherentspreachthebenefitswiththeconvictionofreligiousconverts.Butthecurrentobsessionwith"clean"or"healthy"eatingcanhaveveryunhealthyconsequences.Mirasolcliniciansgatheredtotalkabouttherootsoforthorexia,howitdiffersfromanorex