Imagine constantly thinking about what you eat. Not just choosing healthy options, but obsessing: checking every label, avoiding anything "unhealthy," and it starts interfering with your life. This is called orthorexia nervosa. Don’t confuse it with simply eating healthy – this is about a fixation where food thoughts take over.

This questionnaire was developed in Italy, in Rome. The main author, Lorenzo Donini, worked at Sapienza University with colleagues. It happened in 2005. They built on a test by American Steve Bratman, who first described orthorexia, and expanded it. Donini’s team viewed orthorexia as a kind of mental disorder, similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder, where people can’t stop their rituals. Interestingly, orthorexia doesn’t always harm health or relationships but often makes life less enjoyable and more stressful.

In psychology, orthorexia isn’t an official diagnosis like anorexia or bulimia. It’s not in the DSM-5, the book listing mental disorders. Yet, many experts say it’s a real issue in today’s world, with superfoods and diets everywhere. Risk factors include your personality, environment, and health trends. For example, if you’re a perfectionist or follow lots of nutrition content on social media, you’re more at risk.

The unique thing about this test, called ORTO-15, is its simplicity. It has 15 questions, and you answer each with: always, often, sometimes, never. Then, you calculate points using a specific system. Not all answers score the same, as some reflect healthy behavior, while others signal issues. The test checks if you spend too much time thinking about food and whether it affects your mood or life.

The ORTO-15 Test

Here’s the test. Grab a piece of paper and note your answers. Be honest, or it won’t make sense. Each question is about your habits.

1. When you eat, do you pay attention to the calories in your food?
2. When you go food shopping, do you feel confused?
3. In the last 3 months, have thoughts about food worried you?
4. Does concern for health influence your food choices?
5. Is the taste of food more important than its quality when you evaluate it?
6. Are you willing to spend more money on healthy food?
7. Do thoughts about food bother you for more than three hours a day?
8. Do you allow yourself to break your eating rules?
9. Do you think your mood affects how you eat?
10. Do you believe eating only healthy food boosts your self-esteem?
11. Do you think eating healthy food changes your lifestyle (e.g., eating out, friends)?
12. Do you believe eating healthy food can improve your appearance?
13. Do you feel guilty when you break your eating rules?
14. Do you think there’s unhealthy food on the market?
15. Do you currently eat alone?

Scoring the Test

Now, the scoring. Assign points to each question based on your answer: always, often, sometimes, never. But the scoring varies by question.

• For questions 2, 5, 8, 9 (these reflect "healthy" flexibility):
  • always = 4 points
  • often = 3 points
  • sometimes = 2 points
  • never = 1 point
• For questions 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 (these reflect "orthorexic" tendencies):
  • always = 1 point
  • often = 2 points
  • sometimes = 3 points
  • never = 4 points

Add up all 15 scores. The maximum is 60, the minimum is 15.

What Your Result Means

Here’s what your result means. If your score is below 40, it might suggest signs of orthorexia nervosa – you could be too fixated on "healthy" eating. If it’s 40 or above, your habits are likely closer to normal, without obsession. But this isn’t a doctor’s diagnosis! The test has flaws and sometimes overestimates issues. If you feel this is affecting you, talk to a psychologist. Orthorexia can tie into bigger issues like anxiety or perfectionism. The key is that food should bring joy, not stress.