Orthorexia, defined as: “an obsession with eating foods that one considers healthy,” is making a great deal of news lately. Though not recognized by the medical community as an official diagnosis, the obsession with clean and healthy eating has become a heightened problem and many feel this is due to the abundance of information widely available on the internet. Whether orthorexia is an official eating disorder or not, it is important to speak to a professional if you or someone you love is experiencing obsessions with food to avoid long-term consequences. An Occupational Therapist can help. Check out the following from the Hamilton Spectator which discusses more about Orthorexia and the debates over its validity.
The Hamilton Spectator: ‘Orthorexia’ – an obsession with healthy eating as defined by the Internet