Can Eating Too Healthy Actually Become Unhealthy?

Written by Allegra Goldman

It might sound rather strange and counterintuitive, but it’s something many people struggle with in today's society without even realising it. I wish I had known this sooner - before I spent several years trapped in an unhealthy obsession with healthy living and restriction. If only my 16-year-old self had understood what I know now: my eating disorder wasn’t really about food, but about my overwhelming fear of the unknown and my relentless need for control. I was trying to orchestrate every aspect of my life into a version of ‘perfection’ to feel safe. 

I write this piece to raise awareness, hoping that even one person feels less alone - and to help others understand what’s happening within themselves or someone close to them before they feel completely consumed by it. 

The Fine Line: When Healthy Eating Becomes An Obsession 

When the pursuit of eating ‘pure’ and ‘clean’ starts to control your life, it can cross into something called Orthorexia Nervosa (ON). This proposed Eating Disorder (ED) was first introduced in 1997 by American physician Steven Bratman. Without formal diagnostic criteria, it's unclear whether Othorexia is a stand-alone ED or a type of existing one like Anorexia Nervosa (AN) or a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). 

Orthorexia is characterised by an excessive preoccupation with food selection, preparation, and consumption, focusing on the idea that food is either completely ‘health-based’ or ‘forbidden’. It’s not about enjoying or getting pleasure from food but about controlling it. A person with Orthorexia may develop rigid food rituals, judge others’ diet, and even ignore signs of malnutrition. 

The tricky part? To an outsider, it may look like someone is just leading a 'healthy lifestyle’. In recent years, the wellness industry has shaped an unrealistic image of health, blurring the line between conscious eating and obsessive control. With social media offering endless streams of ‘perfect’ health routines and food information, many have adopted extreme standards of wellness. It’s now considered ‘uncool’ not to go to the gym or join a run club, and this constant exposure can easily make someone feel like they should be doing more to ‘keep up’. 

How Orthorexia Develops: A Complex Web Of Factors

Like other eating disorders, Orthorexia doesn’t have just one cause. It’s usually the result of a mix of different factors. Some people might already have traits like being a perfectionist, feeling anxious, or having a family history of mental health challenges. But those things alone don’t cause Orthorexia. Some triggers can include: 

• Dieting, which is known to be the biggest predictor for its development 

• A person’s developmental stage, particularly adolescence

• Big life events like a family/relationship loss or moving to a new school/home

• Accumulation of stressors without sufficient strategies to cope

• Weight loss - accidental, on purpose, or as the result of a physical illness - or weight gain, excessive exercise

• Sexual, physical or emotional abuse

My Journey: How Orthorexia Took Over My Life 

Looking back to my mid teenage years, I can see how my obsession with eating ‘perfectly’ took root. What started as a fascination with vibrant vegan recipes on Instagram grew into something far darker. Initially, I felt amazing - being vegan gave me a sense of control and joy, and food photography became my passion. But day by day, year by year, the lines blurred between nourishment and restriction, wellness and control. As I faced various life challenges, I clung to my eating habits, convinced they were the key to my safety and self-worth. 

New rituals began to form, negatively impeding on every aspect of my life. Yet, the rules made me feel untouchable. It felt like my ‘hidden’ superpower. Others often commended me on my unwavering self-discipline and consistency, which unknown to them, reassured me that I should persevere. For years, I: 

• Had my main meals and snacks at an exact time everyday 

• Couldn’t repeat ingredients within the same day

• Avoided spending money on others and myself unless it was essential 

• Felt distressed if I couldn’t find my ‘perfect’ brand of a product 

• Body-checked to give myself permission to eat 

• Researched restaurant menus before eating out to decide what I would get

• Thought my missing period was caused by another serious health condition

• Avoided social events and gatherings which involved food and drinks

• Would panic if I wasn’t filling every moment of the day with a task 

These behaviours, which were initially comforting, soon became my prison. I was constantly justifying my choices to myself and others, even though deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. 

Recognising The Signs: Physical, Behavioural And Emotional Red Flags 

Orthorexia manifests in many ways - physically, emotionally, and socially. Recognising the signs early on can help you or someone close to you get the support needed before these patterns become entrenched.

Physical symptoms: 

• Low energy, dizziness, exhaustion, poor coordination 

• Low body weight and a deep fear of weight gain

• Starvation signs like sunken faces, protruding ribs, cold extremities, hair loss

• Gastrointestinal disorders and nutritional deficiencies

• Anaemia, low libido/sex drive, menstrual irregularity/amenorrhea in females 

• Medical complications like cardiac arrhythmias, low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, osteoporosis

Behavioural changes: 

• Rigid diet rules, such as turning vegan or vegetarian, self-diagnosed intolerances or calorie counting 

• Ritualised eating patterns, compulsive thoughts about food, or food hoarding 

• Excessive exercise, even through pain/injury, and feelings of guilt if unable to 

• Distorted body image, body dissatisfaction, and body checking 

• Misuse of laxatives, diuretics or appetite suppressants

Emotional and social indicators: 

• Increased anxiety around food choices 

• Mood swings, depression, and irritability

• Loss of enthusiasm for life and activities 

• Social avoidance and withdrawal, especially for events that involve food/drink

The Turning Point: Acceptance And Recovery 

It wasn’t until I reached my lowest point - mentally and physically - that I decided to reach out for help. For years, I had hidden behind my ‘perfect’ habits, convinced they were the key to my identity. But in reality, they were keeping me from truly living. One day, while on a plane overseas, I confided in my partner of almost 7 years. I told him my ‘secret’, and for the first time in years, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t have to hide anymore. I accepted what had been happening, and that was my first step towards healing. 

Recovery isn’t a linear process. It often requires time, patience, and support from healthcare professionals and loved ones. I had to not only address the energy deficit caused by my eating habits but also work through the restrictive tendencies, rituals, anxiety, and compulsions I had developed over the years. It felt like I was losing my identity because I didn’t know who I was without the eating disorder.

Recovery may not seem possible right now, but I promise you - every day that I choose to challenge old beliefs, I become a more balanced, happy, and healthy version of myself. If you’re struggling, please know that you don’t have to face it alone. Please reach out for help to take those small steps forward. Love, Allegra x

Additional Resources

If you or someone you know may be struggling with orthorexia or any eating disorder, here are some helpful resources you could turn to: 

• Organisations: 

  • https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/areyouatrisk/ 

  • https://insideoutinstitute.org.au/resource-library 

  • https://www.thesecretburden.org.au/ - family support, youth mentoring, awareness and education 

    
    

• Motivational speakers that I have found inspiring: 

  • Tabitha Farar - Author of Rehabilitate, Rewire, Recover.

  • Nicola Sykes - Author of No Period. Now What?

    
    

• Support systems: 

  • Seeking help from a professional team (Psychologist, Dietitian and GP) is extremely helpful in recovery - Eating Disorder Plans (EDPs) may be accessible through a GP to provide financial support for consultations  

  • Eating disorders are irrational, and it’s not the role of loved ones to ‘fix’ the problem, but rather to offer support