A group of researchers has warned that an excessive focus on healthy eating may lead to eating disorders and mental health conditions.
With growing interest in restrictive dietary regimes in recent years, academics have expressed concern that these habits may result in nutritional deficiencies and psychological distress.
According to The Telegraph, Semmelweis University in Hungary conducted a survey of 179 fashion models, revealing that more than one-third exhibited signs of orthorexia—a disorder associated with an unhealthy fixation on consuming ‘clean’ or ‘healthy’ food.
Warning signs of the condition include rigid adherence to dietary rules and the avoidance of significant social or family occasions due to fear of consuming so-called unhealthy food.
Individuals affected by orthorexia may experience stress when their dietary routine is disrupted, and often suffer from symptoms such as hair loss, brittle nails and fatigue.
Dr Nikolett Bogar,, of the Institute of Behavioural Sciences at Semmelweis University, stated: ‘If a person consumes only certain categories of food—such as fish, vegetables, green produce, raw items or carbohydrate-free dishes—they may easily develop nutrient deficiencies, similar to those seen in individuals with eating disorders.’
The study further showed that 90 per cent of participants aspired to consume only ‘clean’ or ‘healthy’ food, a trend comparable to the pursuit of a slim physique at any cost in previous decades.
Researchers cautioned that many individuals prioritise food quality over quantity, which may be inadequate from a nutritional standpoint. In severe cases, an obsession with healthy eating can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
Dr Bogar stressed that food should not be rigidly classified as good or bad, and eating must not become a form of self-punishment. She underscored the importance of adopting a long-term balanced diet rather than an excessively restrictive one.
‘Consuming chocolate or sweets on holidays should occasionally form part of a person’s diet, without feelings of guilt,’ she added.
