Orthorexia is an obsession with healthy eating that turns a seemingly beneficial lifestyle change into a dangerous obsession with “pure” ...(Photo:Unsplash,MajaPetric)Jumpto:WhenHealthyEatingBecomesProblematicSymptomsSelf-TestforOrthorexiaTreatmentOptionsWhenyouthinkofhealthyeating,itprobablyconjuresupideasofbalanceddiets,freshfruitsandvegetables,wholegrains,limitedprocessedfoods,andbeneficiallifestylechoices,likechoosingtoeatorganicfoods,avoidchemicalfoodadditivesandsupportsustainableagriculture,wheneverpossible.WhatifItoldyouthatforsomepeople—thosewhotaketheideaofhealthyeatingtoanextreme—suchalifestylecanleadtoaborderlineformofeatingdisorder?WhenHealthyEatingBecomesaProblemOrthorexiaNervosa,atermcoinedbyAmericanphysicianStevenBratman,MDin1977,ischaracterizedbyanunhealthyobsessionwiththequalityoffoodsinone’sdiet.FromtheGreek,thetermorthorexianervosaliterallymeans“correctdiet.”Sinceobesitystemmingfromtoomuchsugar,fat,calories,andprocessingintheAmericandietispracticallyconsideredanationalemergency,youmightbewonderingwhyorhowanytypeofhealthyeatingcouldbeaproblem.Butofcourse,it’snothealthyeatinginandofitselfthatisaproblem.It’saproblemwhenafixationonhealthyeatingturnsseeminglypositivelifestylechangesintoadangerousroadofobsessionover“pure”foodconsumption.It’saproblemwhenitcausesmajordisruptionstoyourwell-beingandsociallife.Malnutritioncanresultand,sometimes,heartissuesandotherproblemsassociatedwithmalnutritionmayarise.Socialisolationandinterferencewithinterpersonalrelationshipsoccurwhensomeonewithorthorexiastartsputtingthemselvesona“nutritionalpedestal”andlookingdownonthosewhodon’tfollowthesamerestrictivelifestyle.ThetermOrthorexiaNervosaisnotofficiallyrecognizedasaneatingdisorderintheDiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders(DAM-5)orbytheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation.Muchresearchhasbeendoneonorthorexia,buttheclassificationanddefinitionofthisconditionisstillbeingdebated.Physiciansandmentalhealthprofessionalsmaydescribeindividualslivingwithorthorexiaaspossessinganu