Growing numbers reporting unhealthy obsession with 'clean' eating

A Bodywhys spokesperson said orthorexia nervosa involved 'a preoccupation or obsession with dietary purity', particularly around the composition or origin of food.

An increasing number of people are becoming preoccupied with the perceived purity of their food, with some identifying as having orthorexia nervosa, a condition characterised by an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating.

While orthorexia nervosa is not formally recognised as an eating disorder, Bodywhys, the national voluntary organisation supporting people affected by eating disorders, said it was a condition with which "more people are identifying".

According to the organisation's annual report for 2025, 5% of the 278 participants in its online adult support group, and 2% of the 144 participants in its online teen support group said they had orthorexia nervosa.

The condition is being explored in a storyline on the long-running British soap Emmerdale, with one of the characters, Gabby, having collapsed in a recent episode because of her disordered eating habits centred around food purity.

A Bodywhys spokesperson said orthorexia nervosa involved "a preoccupation or obsession with dietary purity", particularly around the composition or origin of food.

She said the condition could lead to significant dietary restrictions as people become driven to consume only foods they perceive to be healthy.

Thinking about food and about how it is prepared becomes a means of coping with the stresses of life and avoiding the experience of negative emotions.

According to Bodywhys, elements of the condition include:

• Compulsive behaviour or preoccupation with dietary practices viewed as promoting optimal health;
• Anxiety, shame, or fear of disease stemming from not adhering to these self-imposed rules;
• Progressive dietary restrictions, such as removing entire food groups and engaging in extreme practices like cleanses and fasting, often disguising a desire for weight loss.

Bodywhys called for research on the condition, with its prevalence among the population uncertain, partly because it is not yet a formal diagnosis.

The spokeswoman added: “There’s no firm agreement on what its symptoms are or how to recognise it. Some individuals identify with it, but further research is needed. 

"Potential risk factors linked to orthorexia nervosa include obsessive-compulsive or perfectionistic tendencies, those with restrictive eating histories, those who work or train in health and fitness, athletes and individuals immersed in wellness-centric environments.” 

It is also linked to specialised diets, strict eating routines, frequent exercise, and abstinence from alcohol, she said.

Last December, a study on the condition conducted by a team of Italian researchers said the research “highlights the need for standardised diagnostic criteria, validated screening instruments, and longitudinal studies to establish the clinical relevance” of the condition.