Social media’s influence on eating habits is normalizing an often undiagnosed disorder, raising concerns among health professionals.
Story Overview
- Orthorexia nervosa is an emerging eating disorder focused on an obsession with healthy eating.
- Social media trends are contributing to the normalization of orthorexic behaviors.
- Orthorexia is not officially recognized in psychiatric manuals, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
- Experts call for more research and formal diagnostic criteria to address the disorder effectively.
The Rise of Orthorexia Nervosa
Orthorexia nervosa, first described by Dr. Steven Bratman in 1997, is a fixation on the quality of food rather than quantity or weight loss. Unlike anorexia or bulimia, it focuses on consuming “pure” or “clean” foods, often leading to rigid dietary rules and social isolation. Despite its prevalence, orthorexia lacks formal recognition in the DSM-5, making it challenging for individuals to receive a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Watch: Orthorexia Nervosa: When Healthy Eating Becomes Harmful
Social media has exacerbated the issue, with platforms like Instagram and TikTok promoting unrealistic dietary standards through “What I eat in a day” videos and wellness influencers. These trends contribute to the normalization of orthorexic behaviors, particularly among adolescents and young adults, who are most susceptible to these influences. This cultural shift towards extreme health consciousness can blur the line between healthy eating and pathological obsession, complicating the understanding of orthorexia.
Social Media Is Normalizing An Often Undiagnosed Eating Disorder https://t.co/KuXAXa4swO
— Consciousness Intervention (@CSIntervention) August 11, 2025
The Impact of Social Media
Experts emphasize that social media is a double-edged sword in the context of eating disorders. While it can raise awareness and provide support communities, it also fosters unrealistic expectations and pressures individuals into unhealthy eating behaviors. Influencers, often lacking nutritional expertise, wield significant cultural power, promoting restrictive diets that can exacerbate or trigger orthorexic tendencies.
Treatment centers and mental health professionals are increasingly recognizing the need for interventions that address the role of social media in orthorexia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) are among the recommended treatments, alongside nutrition counseling and media literacy training to help patients develop a healthier relationship with food and information.
Moving Towards Recognition and Treatment
While orthorexia remains a controversial topic in the psychiatric community, there is a growing consensus on the need for formal diagnostic criteria and inclusion in psychiatric manuals. Without official recognition, patients struggle to access resources, and healthcare providers face challenges in offering standardized care. The demand for mental health and nutrition services is rising, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive research into prevalence, risk factors, and effective treatment strategies.
The wellness and diet industries may undergo scrutiny as awareness of orthorexia increases. As more cases are reported in clinical settings, there is potential for policy changes concerning social media regulation and health education, aiming to balance the benefits of online platforms with the need to protect vulnerable populations from harmful trends.
Sources:
Healthline: Orthorexia Nervosa 101
WebMD: What is Orthorexia?
Montenido: What We Treat – Orthorexia
PMC: Orthorexia Nervosa: An Overview
PMC: Social Media and Orthorexia
