May 26, 2025

The Role of Social Media in the Development of Orthorexia

By Rebecca Appleman RD

How Online Health and Nutrition Culture May Contribute to Disordered Eating Behaviors

We often talk about how social media can lead to the development of eating disorders like anorexia, as people are bombarded with images of “thin” bodies and in turn, they internalize the message that this ultra thin appearance is the only one that has value. Expectations that all bodies can and should be super thin are not realistic and they contribute to negative experiences of the body, negative body image and disordered eating patterns as people try to manipulate their food intake in order to lose weight.

We know that what we see on various social media platforms related to food, nutrition and appearance is often altered and inaccurate and this misinformation about food and body creates a culture around food that fosters unhealthy eating habits.

Anorexia is not the only eating disorder that arises from social media influences.  Orthorexia is disordered eating pattern characterized by an obsessive focus on eating foods perceived as healthy, clean, or pure. Orthorexia centers around the quality and perceived morality of food choices – that there are “good foods” and “bad foods” and that a person has to prioritize only “good” foods or else they’re not treating their body like the temple it is.

You can read more about Orthorexia, here.

While not yet formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), orthorexia is increasingly acknowledged in clinical settings and public health discussions due to its impact on nutritional balance, psychological well-being, and social functioning.

Social media has played a significant role in shaping attitudes toward food and health, and research has begun to explore how exposure to curated, idealized images of wellness may contribute to the development or reinforcement of orthorexic tendencies.

How Social Media Amplifies Certain Eating Behaviors

Social media platforms – particularly those centered around visual content, such as Instagram and TikTok – have created a space where food is frequently presented in aesthetic, idealized ways. While some of this content promotes balanced eating much of it focuses on rigid dietary patterns that are framed as aspirational or morally superior, but are scientifically unsound.

In addition, we’re finding that social media creates claims around food that are misleading or entirely inaccurate. People become misled by claims about things like gluten, food coloring, seed oils, and more in ways that affect their diets and the way they behave around food and others.

Several characteristics of social media can contribute to the emergence of orthorexia:

• Algorithmic Reinforcement – Platforms prioritize content similar to what users engage with. A single interest in healthy recipes or wellness influencers can quickly lead to repeated exposure to extreme clean eating content.
• Moral Language Around Food – Phrases like “guilt-free,” “clean,” “real,” or “toxic” can contribute to a binary view of food as either good or bad, promoting restrictive and rule-based eating.
• Unqualified Health Advice – Influencers without clinical training often provide prescriptive nutrition content that lacks scientific validity but is presented with authority.
• Aesthetic Pressure – Highly stylized food posts and body-focused wellness content can contribute to the belief that eating a certain way is required to look a certain way. And further that looking a certain way should be a priority.
• Comparison and Internalization – Regular exposure to curated depictions of others’ eating habits can cause individuals to compare their own diets and feel pressure to match a perceived ideal of health.

These patterns can normalize behaviors that would otherwise be viewed as overly restrictive, and may even reward them socially through likes, shares, and affirmation in comments.

Emerging Research on Orthorexia and Digital Media

Although orthorexia is still a developing area of study, existing research has identified links between social media use and the presence of orthorexic traits. Studies have shown higher orthorexia symptom scores in individuals who follow a greater number of health and fitness accounts, particularly when their feeds are dominated by content emphasizing dietary purity, food elimination, or detox culture.

It is not the use of social media itself that causes orthorexia, but rather the type and volume of content consumed – and the extent to which users internalize its messages – that appear to play a more influential role. Yet, it’s also important to remember that most of us do not have great control over this content.

Why Professional Awareness and Education Matter

Many individuals with orthorexic tendencies do not recognize their behaviors as problematic. This is partly because they are often praised for their discipline, commitment to health, or appearance. “Eating healthy food” is considered a good thing by society, even if the emphasis on healthy is misleading.

The normalization of restrictive eating patterns on social media can make it more difficult for individuals and professionals alike to identify when behavior has crossed into disordered territory.

Creating Health Messaging That Encourages Balance

Social media will likely continue to play a role in shaping perceptions of health and wellness, which is why it is so important to be informed, gain a better understanding of how someone has developed their eating habits, and teach more information about food and diet.

Orthorexia is complex and multifactorial, but understanding how digital media influences attitudes toward food is an important step toward supporting healthier, more sustainable relationships with eating – both online and offline. If you or someone you love might benefit from speaking to a nutritionist about orthorexia or other common food-related challenges, please reach out to us, we’re here to help.