I want to say someone is truly passionate and crazy about someone else/something

[alpacinou]

I want to say someone is truly passionate and crazy about someone else/something. Can I use "healthy obsession"? Are these correct and natural?

1. Amanda has a healthy obsession with French culture. In her room, you can find lots of French books and magazines.
2. I think you should indulge your healthy obsession with chocolate cakes and order one right now.
3. Jim has a healthy obsession with NBA. He'd be damned if he misses watch one single game.
4. Steven has a healthy obsession with winning and being number one. His insatiable thirst for victory has made him a better athlete.
5. Frank has a healthy obsession with Claire. He's tickled pink each time he sees her.
6. Kevin has a healthy obsession with perfection and order. It makes him a hard boss to work for.

 

[5jj]

It's wrong in #2, and not very natural in any of the others. These people simply have an obsession with something,

 

[alpacinou]

These people simply have an obsession with something,

Do you mean I should drop "healthy"? Are these more natural?

1. Amanda has an obsession with French culture. In her room, you can find lots of French books and magazines.
3. Jim has an obsession with NBA. He'd be damned if he misses watch one single game.
4. Steven has an obsession with winning and being number one. His insatiable thirst for victory has made him a better athlete.
5. Frank has an obsession with Claire. He's tickled pink each time he sees her.
6. Kevin has an obsession with perfection and order. It makes him a hard boss to work for.

Since "obsession" has a negative connotation, how can I make it less negative? I thought adding "healthy" could do that.

 

[5jj]

Do you mean I should drop "healthy"?

Yes.

Since "obsession" has a negative connotation, how can I make it less negative?

Use a different word or expression. I think all of your sentences would read more naturally with 'is obsessed with' rather than 'has an obsession about'.

 

[alpacinou]

Use a different word or expression.

What words/expressions do you suggest?

 

[emsr2d2]

5jj already told you what you should use - "is obsessed with".

 

[alpacinou]

5jj already told you what you should use - "is obsessed with".

I know but that's negative. I was thinking "healthy obsession" is less negative.

 

[Amigos4]

What words/expressions do you suggest?

You will find a list of "healthy" possibilities here.

 

[Amigos4]

3. Jim has an obsession with NBA. He'd be damned if he misses watch one single game.

Can you find the errors in sentence 3.?

 

[5jj]

The words obsess and obsession suggest that the feeling is extreme, i.e. negative. If you want something less negative, don't use those words.

 

[emsr2d2]

I would take "is obsessed with" as relatively neutral, maybe with a tiny swing towards negative. We don't tend to be specific about something we consider to be a "healthy obsession". Most of us are quite quick to express the opposite though, with "XXX has an unhealthy obsession with ...".