When it comes to food, we’ve all been taught since kindergarten about the importance of a healthy diet. But some people take it to the extreme. The Today Show reported on a condition called ‘orthorexia’, where people have a severe obsession with eating healthy foods.

Orthorexia is not considered an official mental disorder, but that doesn’t mean it is not a real issue. Orthorexics aren’t concerned with losing weight or counting calories. They focus on the quality of food that they consume–whether it contains pesticides, is overly processed, or uses any artificial flavoring or coloring. Any food fitting those descriptions is strictly cut out of their diet. Orthorexics spend countless hours reading labels, preparing meals and obsessing over food.

The effects of orthorexia impact everyday life. People with the disorder not only have less energy because of malnutrition, but they could become depressed and isolated due to their food obsessions. Cases can run from mild to severe. Because orthorexia is widely unknown, there are no studies or statistics to tell us more about the disorder.

Do you think orthorexia is legit? Blog about it, girlies.

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