What is Orthorexia?

Orthorexia describes an unhealthy preoccupation with “healthy”, “clean” or “pure” eating that has started to take a toll on a person’s wellbeing. What may begin as a genuine interest in health can gradually tighten into rigid rules, anxiety about “bad” foods, and guilt or distress when those rules are broken.

While orthorexia isn’t a formal diagnosis in the way some other eating disorders are, it is well recognised clinically — and the distress and disruption it causes are very real. It can affect relationships, social life and mental health, and it often hides in plain sight because it can look like “discipline” from the outside.

Further reading: well recognised clinically. Tegan is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and member of Dietitians Australia.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Your first appointment is a calm, non-judgemental conversation. It’s a chance to share your relationship with food in your own words, talk about which rules feel hardest, and agree on gentle first steps toward more flexibility, at a pace that feels safe.