What is orthorexia and how is it different from just eating healthy?

Orthorexia is an obsession with healthy eating that becomes detrimental, leading to nutritional deficiencies and mental health issues, unlike regular healthy eating.

Why is orthorexia hard to identify, according to experts like Sadi Fox?

Orthorexia is hard to identify because people are often praised for eating healthy, masking the underlying obsession and disorder.

What role does social media play in the rise of orthorexia?

Social media and diet culture contribute to orthorexia by promoting restrictive eating and creating fears about 'toxic' foods.

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Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes An Obsession

17 Dec

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Summary

Orthorexia is an obsession with healthy foods, leading to nutritional deficiencies.
It's difficult to identify, as healthy eating is often praised.
Social media and diet culture contribute to the rise of this disorder.

Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes An Obsession

Orthorexia, an eating disorder marked by an obsession with consuming only "healthy" foods, is becoming increasingly prevalent. This fixation can lead individuals to dangerously restrict their diets, resulting in nutritional deficiencies and significant mental health struggles, including shame and isolation. The disorder is often insidious, as its outward appearance of healthy eating can lead to praise rather than concern, making diagnosis challenging for both individuals and professionals.

Experts note that orthorexia's signs are subtle because the focus is on food purity rather than body image, unlike some other eating disorders. This fixation can manifest as rigid food rules, avoidance of social eating situations, and excessive time spent researching or preparing food. The influence of social media and prevailing diet culture, which often promotes restrictive eating patterns, is seen as a significant factor driving the rise of orthorexia.