“Healthy orthorexia” refers to cultivating a general interest in healthy eating and nutrition, viewing healthy eating as part of personal identity, and spending time and effort buying and preparing healthy foods. Healthy eating is prioritized, but there is not an unhealthy fixation on it, and there is diet flexibility, meaning that deviations from the perceived healthy diet can occur without inducing the psychological distress or guilt that occur in orthorexia nervosa. Healthy orthorexia has been positively correlated with overall well-being, positive emotions, and mindfulness. Additionally, studies have found that healthy orthorexia either does not correlate (or negatively correlates) with disordered eating, perfectionism, OCD symptoms, and negative emotions. Interestingly, like orthorexia nervosa, healthy orthorexia does not necessarily mean that the perceived healthy diet is in line with objective definitions of healthy eating.[1][2][3]
Currently, there is only one orthorexia nervosa measurement tool that differentiates between healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa – the Teruel Othorexia Scale.