When Healthy Went Too Far: Orthorexia Recovery Stories

Inside this volume

Fifty first-person accounts describe orthorexia, the fixation on eating correctly that is still not a formal diagnosis and still debated by researchers. Writers describe how it began — a heart attack, a diabetes diagnosis, cancer, a thyroid problem, menopause, a food intolerance test with a long list, rugby or racing nutrition, a wellness writing job, a gym group chat, posting meals online, ethical veganism that hardened into fear — and how it narrowed life: weddings, barbecues and business dinners skipped, an in-laws' table refused, a supplement shelf that took over, labels read like prescriptions, firehouse and truck-stop meals avoided. There is the turning point, often a blood test showing deficiencies, a school counsellor, grandchildren noticing or a daughter beginning to copy, and then treatment with eating-disorder teams, dietitians and therapists, sometimes after months on a waiting list. Writers are honest that rules loosen slowly and that some remain. Contributors include men, a chef, a doctor, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, students leaving for university, and people whose whole community ate the same way. Later chapters cover Ramadan, moving abroad, family arguments, and an honest account of where people are now.

Who it's for

For anyone whose healthy eating has started to feel like a cage, parents and partners who have noticed the rules, people managing diabetes or other diet-related conditions, and clinicians and dietitians.

Format · Instant download · PDF & EPUB · Fifty first-person accounts · PDF: 283 pages

A collection of personal testimony, offered as companion reading — not medical advice.

• 50 single-author testimonies from real people
• A short, plain-language introduction to the topic
• Editor's note, contents page, and curated resource list
• Professional interior typesetting and an original cover

Every purchase includes a print-quality PDF (best for desktop, tablet, and printing) and a reflowable EPUB (best for Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, and phones). Files are DRM-free. You can download both instantly from the order-confirmation screen, and we email them to your inbox as well, so your books are always within reach.