being a vegan or being raw does not necessarily mean you are orthorexic (obviously). orthorexia is just like any eating disorder in that you have huge issues with food and are pretty much unwilling to put anything in your mouth that you have not somehow justified as being a healthy food.

for instance, someone can be a healthy eater, but not mind binging every once in a while on cookies or ice cream. totally normal, even though they almost always eat healthy otherwise. orthorexics WOULD NOT do that.

I say it's legit. I feel like some people really underestimate how broad of a thing eating disorders can be, because they haven't been exposed to them. I know several people with ed's, and living with someone who has one definitely gives me a better understanding, probably.

Eight years ago, I was diagnosed as an anoretic with bulimic tendencies. I had a severe obsession with eating healthy, although at the time, there wasn't a name for it circulating around. And out of that obsession, without my ever even realizing it, I spiraled into the world of anorexia and bulimia.

I think orthorexia is more commonly viewed in conjunction with a recognized eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, even compulsive overeating instead of being diagnosed as an eating disorder in itself. When I asked my doctor about it, this was a couple of years ago when I first heard of it, he said that there really wasn't enough guidelines for someone to be medically diagnosed with orthorexia alone. It can often be the starting point for anorexia/bulimia/COE if it does end up progressing.

As of now, it is obviously not an epidemic like other eating disorders are or else we'd be hearing much more about the dangers of it. I really wasn't surprised when they came up with a name for it because they have a title for every other eating habit out there.