Orthorexia Test
A confidential self-assessment built on the Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS), a validated 10-item measure of when a focus on 'healthy' or 'clean' eating tips into something rigid and distressing. You get an instant, plain-language result on where you fall, plus an optional in-depth personalized report to keep or bring to a professional.
Orthorexia Test is a free, confidential 10-question self-assessment, based on the validated Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS). It takes about 4 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 3 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
When 'eating clean' stops feeling like a choice
Orthorexia is not about eating well. It is about how much healthy eating starts to run your life. This test uses the ten items of the validated Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale to look at the rules, the preoccupation, and the distress, not the contents of your plate.
Ten validated DOS statements
The ten items of the Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale, reworded for clarity while keeping their meaning. Each is rated from 1 (this does not apply to me) to 4 (this applies to me), giving a total from 10 to 40.
Rules, preoccupation, and guilt
Not how 'clean' you eat, but how much healthy eating takes over: rigid food rules you struggle to break, thoughts about eating that fill your day, and anxiety or guilt when you eat something you judge as impure.
Where 'healthy' turns harmful
The DOS convention: a total of 30 or more points to orthorexic eating behavior, and 25 to 29 suggests you may be at risk. Higher scores reflect more fixation and more impact on everyday life, work, and relationships.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Validated DOS items | Rarely | Yes, all 10 items |
| Clear DOS cutoffs (25 and 30) | Rarely | Yes, clearly explained |
| Distinguishes orthorexia from other eating concerns | No | Yes, with a cross-link |
| Honest about the diagnosis question | Rarely | Yes, not yet a DSM diagnosis |
| Non-judgmental, non-triggering framing | Often clinical | Yes, supportive |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–40 in total. Your result falls into one of 3 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 | Little indication of orthorexia | Your DOS score sits in the lower range. The lowest possible total on this scale is 10, and your result is below the point where a focus on healthy eating tends to look rigid or distressing. |
| 25–29 | You may be at risk | Your DOS score falls in the range the research flags as at risk. Some of the rigidity and preoccupation that define orthorexia may be present, without reaching the higher threshold. |
| 30–40 | Orthorexic eating behavior likely | Your DOS score is at or above 30, the threshold the research links to orthorexic eating behavior. That suggests healthy eating may be taking up a great deal of room and coming at a real cost. Support can make a genuine difference. |
Methodology & sources
This test reproduces the ten items of the Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS), developed and validated by Barthels, Meyer, and Pietrowsky (2015) to measure orthorexic eating behavior: an obsessive focus on eating food one considers healthy or pure. Each item is reworded to read clearly while staying faithful to the original, and rated from 1 (this does not apply to me) to 4 (this applies to me). The ten ratings add up to a total from 10 to 40, following the DOS convention where higher scores reflect stronger orthorexic tendencies. In the validation research, a total of 30 or more indicated orthorexic eating behavior and 25 to 29 marked people considered at risk. For comfort we keep the same four-point rating for every item, exactly as the published scale does.
Orthorexia nervosa is not, at least not yet, a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5 or ICD-11, and researchers are still refining how to define it (Cena et al., 2019). That is one reason this is a screening for reflection and education, not a diagnosis. It also measures something narrower than a general eating-disorder screen: the DOS is about fixation on food purity and healthfulness, while broader concerns such as restriction, bingeing, or body-image distress are better captured by our <a href="/tests/eating-disorder">eating disorder test</a>. If food or your body cause you distress in ways this scale does not name, that broader test is a better place to start.
References
- Barthels F, Meyer F, Pietrowsky R. Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale – construction and evaluation of a questionnaire measuring orthorexic eating behavior. Z Klin Psychol Psychother. 2015;44(2):97–105.
- Cena H, Barthels F, Cuzzolaro M, et al. Definition and diagnostic criteria for orthorexia nervosa: a narrative review of the literature. Eat Weight Disord. 2019;24(2):209–246.
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, August 28). Orthorexia Test. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/orthorexia
Orthorexia Test FAQ
What are the signs and symptoms of orthorexia?
Orthorexia, or orthorexia nervosa, describes an obsessive focus on eating only foods a person believes are healthy, clean, or pure. The signs that set it apart from ordinary healthy eating are the rigidity and the cost: strict self-imposed rules, guilt or anxiety when those rules are broken, and a preoccupation with food quality that starts to crowd out work, relationships, and flexibility. It is the fixation and the distress that matter, not the food itself.
What score suggests orthorexia?
This test follows the Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale convention. Scores run from 10 to 40, and higher means more orthorexic tendencies. A total of 30 or more is the threshold the research links to orthorexic eating behavior, while 25 to 29 suggests you may be at risk. Scores below 25 show little indication on this scale. As with any screen, a number is a prompt for reflection, not a verdict.
How is this different from an eating disorder test?
The Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale looks specifically at fixation on healthy or 'clean' eating and the rules around it. A broader screen looks at restriction, bingeing, purging, and body-image distress. The two can overlap, and orthorexic patterns sometimes sit alongside other eating concerns. If you want the wider picture, our <a href="/tests/eating-disorder">eating disorder test</a> combines two validated instruments and is a good companion to this one.
Is orthorexia an official diagnosis?
Not yet. Orthorexia nervosa is not currently listed as a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5 or ICD-11, and experts are still working out agreed criteria (Cena et al., 2019). That does not make the distress any less real. Many people experience genuine impairment from orthorexic patterns and benefit from support, whether or not a formal label exists.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Only a licensed clinician can assess disordered eating or any related condition. If your results or your relationship with food concern you, please reach out to a professional.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server, never stored, and never linked to you. No account is needed.
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