Key points
- Seeing health, wellness trends, social media can provide what seems like unlimited content that appeals to our interests. Social media has become the go-to for many people; seconds after we sign on, an algorithm is able to gauge our interests and offer exactly what we’re looking for.
Imagine you came across a video about “super foods” and watched it until the end. Soon enough, your main page could be filled with content promising to optimize your health.
What could possibly go wrong with wanting to be “healthier”? The answer is more complicated than we might think.
What Is Orthorexia Nervosa?
In recent years, researchers have become increasingly interested in “Orthorexia Nervosa,” a fixation on eating only self-perceived “clean” or “pure” foods. Importantly, while Orthorexia Nervosa might seem similar to eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, the main focus in Orthorexia Nervosa is on the quality of foods and perfectionist standards about one’s diet, rather than necessarily losing weight or changing one’s appearance. Like other eating disorders, however, Orthorexia Nervosa can significantly interfere with people’s daily lives and lead to worsened physical and mental health (e.g., anxiety, social isolation).
Investigating Orthorexia Nervosa in the Context of Social Media
