Overview
- Orthorexia involves an obsessive focus on healthy eating, leading to restricted diets, social isolation, and potential physical health issues.
- The condition is not officially recognized in diagnostic systems like DSM-5 or ICD-10 due to insufficient research and ongoing scientific debate.
- Psychologist Friederike Barthels highlights its psychological underpinnings, including perfectionism, control needs, and anxiety as key risk factors.
- Social media plays a dual role, raising awareness about orthorexia while also promoting unrealistic health ideals that may exacerbate the condition.
- Tailored therapeutic approaches, including eating disorder treatments and nutritional counseling, are being explored to support affected individuals.