Defining the health risks of orthorexia nervosa

Vaia Lampadiari, a professor of Pathology-Endocrinology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, has warned that the pursuit of healthy eating can escalate into a harmful condition known as orthorexia nervosa. This mental health concern, which was first defined in 1997, occurs when the boundary between conscious dietary choices and obsessive behavior is crossed.

Orthorexia is characterized by an rigid attachment to consuming only "clean" foods, leading to the exclusion of entire food groups perceived as unhealthy or high in calories. Key indicators include intense anxiety regarding food choices, obsessive preparation rituals, refusal to eat meals prepared by others, and a significant decline in social engagement. These behaviors often lead to severe negative consequences for both physical and mental well-being, as the focus on diet begins to dominate an individual's entire daily life.

Experts emphasize that the primary distinction between healthy eating and this disorder lies in the amount of space and stress diet occupies in one's life. The condition is categorized by its compulsive nature and the resulting isolation from social environments, marking a transition from lifestyle choice to a psychological constraint.