The Daily News – June 23, 2025

Can healthy eating ever be unhealthy? While we all know that eating clean is of course good for us, the topic we wanted to discuss today is what happens when it becomes an unhealthy obsession that’s all consuming. Well, this is what is referred to as orthorexia. So what is it? Orthorexia is an obsession with eating clean that can quietly damage both physical and mental health. From berry bowls to chia puddings, eating clean is a trend embraced by millions. But when our food choices become overly rigid, joyless, and driven by anxiety or perfectionism, this can cross the line into disordered eating. The term orthorexia was coined in 1997 by physician Steven Bratman to describe people who weren’t physically ill but were mentally consumed by food rules. He describes two levels. Healthy orthorexia, which is an interest in nutritious eating and orthorexia nervosa, an unhealthy fixation that restricts life, joy and relationships. Really though, how common is this? Well, some studies estimate up to 35 to 58% of high risk groups like athletes, artists, and even healthcare workers show symptoms and social media may be making the problem worse. A TikTok search for clean eating brings up over 64 million posts. Influencers tell strict rules, calorie deficit days, and what I eat in a day videos reinforcing rigid thinking. Experts say this isn’t just about weight or body image. In fact, people with orthorexia often aren’t even trying to lose weight. The problem is the obsession with food, purity and control, leading to malnutrition, isolation, and even emotional distress. So what can you do? Well, according to an article from the Washington Post, you can start with a screening. The National Eating Disorders Association offers a free online tool that’s being used over a million times. Also, maybe work with a team. Recovery can involve a therapist, a dietician, and sometimes family support. And what about challenging the algorithm? If your social feed is full of food rules, swap out your searches. Look up travel spots, puppies or memes, literally anything else. And how about grocery store therapy? One Doctor asked patients to list formerly loved foods that they’ve banned and slowly reintroduce them and watch your words. Family and friends can help by avoiding labels, like good or bad, when talking about food. One expert has this to say most people have it in them to change. The first step is just getting help. The bottom line here is that eating healthy is a great thing, but you can eat well without losing your joy. If you found this information helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for more updates. As always, thank you so much for joining us on The Daily News.