Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which patients obsess about consuming healthy foods. Even while eating healthy is beneficial, persons with Orthorexia Nervosa obsess over it to the point that it does more harm than benefit. It is distinct from other eating disorders in that it is not driven by a compulsive need to reduce weight or look skinny.

People with this eating disorder may assume that a certain food is related to a disease, such as cancer, and hence exclude it from their diet entirely. If you have Orthorexia Nervosa, this exaggerated response can lead to severe malnutrition. People with this eating disorder are known to see food as primarily a source of nutrition rather than pleasure. This can lead to a diet deficient in critical nutrients such as fats, which are necessary for good health.