Phytorexia is increasingly coming up in discussions of mental health and body image issues. The term refers to the obsessive pursuit of having the perfect figure through diet control and physical activity. In today’s society, where the culture of physical perfection is constantly promoted by social media, advertising and social norms, phytorexia is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon.
Learn more about phytorexia and discover ways to treat this specific eating disorder.
What is phytorexia?
Phytorexia is the term used to describe the obsessive pursuit of having an ideal body shape through diet control and physical activity. Those affected by phytorexia often engage in intense workouts and follow restrictive diets, all in an effort to achieve the figure of their dreams. The obsessive nature of phytorexia manifests itself in frequent calorie counting, avoidance of eating certain food groups, and constant monitoring of one’s appearance. Phytorexia, in the simplest terms, is an addiction to physical perfection, where a lack of control over food or failure to achieve the appearance of one’s dreams can lead to feelings of guilt and serious health and mental problems. It is important to remember that phytorexia can have consequences for an individual’s health and require specialized therapeutic intervention.
Symptoms and diagnosis of phytorexia
Individuals affected by phytorexia may exhibit a number of characteristic symptoms that may indicate the presence of the disorder. The most common symptoms of phytorexia include:
- obsessive thinking about food, diet, weight and body image,
- starving oneself or exercising excessively to burn calories,
- constantly weighing oneself and monitoring weight loss progress,
- avoiding the consumption of certain food groups or nutrients,
- an unhealthy approach to exercise, leading to exhaustion or injury,
- incorrect perceptions of one’s own body, such as seeing oneself as a fatter person despite a low weight.
Eating disorder, obsessive nature of the disorder. Difficulties in diagnosis
Diagnosis of phytorexia can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, orthorexia, and drunkorexia. For adolescents, phytorexia can often be confused with a positive approach to a healthy lifestyle, further complicating the process of diagnosis and recognition.
Diagnostic problems with phytorexia can result from several factors:
- Similarity to other disorders. As mentioned above, phytorexia can have similar symptoms to other eating disorders, but also body dysmorphic disorders like bigorexia. Phytorexia can also be confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) or social anxiety disorder. As a result, diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms and a thorough clinical evaluation is needed.
- Lack of awareness of the disorder. People affected by phytorexia may not realize that their eating behavior is problematic. They may believe that caring about healthy eating and regular physical activity is simply a feature of their personality, rather than a symptom of the disorder.
- Concealing behavior. People with phytorexia may hide their eating behaviors from others, making it difficult for those around them, as well as health professionals, to identify the problem.
- Shame and fear of being judged. People with phytorexia may feel shame or fear of being judged by others, which can keep them from seeking help. This fear of rejection or stigma can further hinder diagnosis and treatment.
- Low social understanding. Phytorexia is a relatively new concept compared to other eating disorders, so there may be a lack of public awareness of the disorder. Lack of knowledge about phytorexia can lead to underdiagnosis and treatment of those affected.
Phytorexia vs. dysmorphophobia
Although phytorexia focuses mainly on diet control and healthy eating, and dysmorphophobia on negative perceptions of one’s own body, both mental disorders can lead to serious health and psychological problems. In some cases, they can co-exist, exacerbating the patient’s difficulties.
Phytorexia is classified as an eating disorder, much like anorexia or bulimia. Similarities are pointed out with bigorexia, an exaggerated preoccupation with muscle development. Phytorexia is sometimes referred to as“sports bulimia,” where after eating a meal instead of provoking vomiting, the phytorexic engages in an additional series of exercises. It can also be called “sports anorexia,” where a person obsessively treats exercise only as a way to burn calories and reduce weight.
Causes of phytorexia
Phytorexia, like many other eating disorders, can have a complex background, resulting from the interaction of various factors. The most common causes of phytorexia are:
- social pressure and a culture of perfection: modern culture promotes an ideal body, which is often unrealistic and unattainable for most people. Social pressure, both in real life and on social media platforms, can make people feel inferior, resulting in an obsession with being “fit.”
- individual psychological factors: people affected by phytorexia may have certain personality traits, such as perfectionism, low self-esteem or fear of rejection, that promote the development of the disorder. Traumatic past experiences may also influence the development of phytorexia,
- family history of eating disorders: people with a family history of eating disorders may be more likely to develop phytorexia. The family environment can influence the formation of norms related to appearance and eating, which in turn can contribute to the development of unhealthy eating habits and body image,
- achievement pressures: modern society often places great emphasis on achievement and success. The fashion of being “fit” is presented as a key element of success and happiness. Individuals exposed to these pressures may engage in phytoreactive behaviors to meet these expectations,
- lack of education about healthy eating: lack of adequate education about healthy eating and acceptance of one’s own body can promote the development of phytorexia. Education about healthy eating habits and promoting a positive attitude toward one’s own body can be an effective form of phytorexia prevention.
Risks and consequences of phytorexia
Phytorexia not only affects the lifestyle of those affected by the disorder, but can also have serious health and social consequences.
Health problems
Phytorexia can lead to a number of serious health problems, both physical and mental. Among the health consequences of phytorexia are malnutrition, weight loss, endocrine disruption, digestive problems and osteoporosis, as well as injury and strain. Phytorexia often leads to social isolation, interpersonal relationship problems and lowered self-esteem. Those affected by phytorexia may experience anxiety and states of chronic depression. In the long term, phytorexia can lead to serious health complications and significantly reduce an individual’s quality of life.
The impact of social media on phytorexia
Phytorexia is becoming an increasingly common problem in society, especially among young people and those active on social media. Social pressures and the idealization of certain body patterns are contributing to the increased incidence of phytorexia. Studies suggest that more and more people are beginning to manifest symptoms of phytorexia, highlighting the need for increased awareness and prevention efforts.
Social media is playing an increasingly important role in shaping ideas about the ideal body and promoting the cult of physical perfection. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are full of photos, videos and content promoting slim, perfect (often retouched) bodies and ideal life styles. The impact of this content on individuals can be enormous, especially for those who are sensitive to social feedback and prone to comparison with others. Constant exposure to the idealized body image presented on social media can lead to an unhealthy pursuit of physical perfection, which in turn creates a breeding ground for the development of phytorexia.
Artificial beauty
Social media often convey false standards of beauty and physical perfection, which can cause a dissociation between reality and an individual’s perceptions of his or her own body. Filters, retouching and perfectly cropped photos can give the impression that the ideal body is attainable for everyone, leading to feelings of guilt and dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance in individuals who do not meet these unrealistic standards. Therefore, it is important to promote awareness of media manipulation and a critical approach to the content presented on social media. Knowing how to retouch and edit photos can help people understand that the ideal body presented in the media is often only a false image, and that the real value lies in self-acceptance and self-respect.
Phytorexia and the violence of the modern world
Phytorexia can be closely linked to various forms of violence of the modern world:
- media and social pressure: the promotion of ideal beauty standards in social media, advertisements or on television screens can create pressure on the individual, who begins to feel constant pressure to meet these unrealistic demands,
- emotional violence: setting unattainable standards of beauty and valuing an individual based solely on his or her appearance can lead to emotional violence. Those affected by phytorexia may experience low self-esteem, depression or anxiety,
- psychological violence: phytorexia is often associated with obsessive thoughts about food, weight and body image. Those affected by the disorder may experience psychological violence by constantly criticizing themselves, blaming themselves for failing to meet unrealistic expectations, or feeling guilty for every “failed” day of dieting or training,
- social violence: phytorexia can lead to social isolation and problems in interpersonal relationships. People struggling with this disorder may avoid social gatherings or attending social events because of complexes about their appearance. This phenomenon sometimes intensifies when we find ourselves in a group of people focused on the pursuit of an increasingly fit and athletic body, but we ourselves do not share these priorities – which can lead to alienation.
Realizing how the obsessive pursuit of an ideal body can lead to various forms of violence is a key step in the process of understanding and treating phytorexia. It also underscores the urgent need to take action to reduce the pressure to look perfect and promote a healthy approach to the body.
Phytorexia and fitness culture. Addiction to appearance
Fitness culture has become extremely popular and is an important part of the lifestyles of many people in various social and cultural groups. It is therefore important to be cautious and alert to the potential negative effects of overexposure to fitness trends. Many of these behaviors promote not only physical activity, but also idealized standards of beauty and the perfect figure, leading to pressure to achieve the ideal body.
In the recipients and viewers of this content, this leads to feelings of dissatisfaction with one’s own body and an obsessive pursuit of perfection, which in turn can promote the development of phytorexia. Therefore, it is important to promote not only physical activity, but also a healthy attitude toward the body, acceptance and normalization of bodily diversity, and the development of a positive attitude toward one’s own appearance as part of the fitness culture.
Phytorexia, as the obsessive pursuit of an ideal body shape, is an increasingly common phenomenon in society, especially in the context of the promotion of a culture of physical perfection by social media and social norms. This disorder can lead to a range of health and mental health problems, requiring specialized therapeutic intervention. It is worth taking steps to educate the public, promote a healthy attitude toward the body and awareness of media manipulation to reduce the incidence of phytorexia and improve the quality of life of those affected.
Therapy and treatment of phytorexia
Phytorexia requires specialized therapeutic intervention.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most commonly used forms of therapy for phytorexia. CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to the development and maintenance of the disorder. The therapist works with the patient to change harmful beliefs about the body, food and physical activity, and teaches effective coping strategies for dealing with obsessive thoughts, enabling effective treatment of phytorexia. In addition, the therapist may work with the patient to change extreme physical activity behaviors to more healthy and sustainable ones.
Psychological support
Psychological support also plays an important role in phytorexia treatment. This can include both individual and group therapy sessions, where people struggling with similar problems can share their experiences and support each other. It is important that those affected by phytorexia feel supported and have space to express their emotions and concerns.
Diet and physical activity
The role of diet and physical activity in the treatment of phytorexia is also important. Working with a dietitian can help restore a healthy approach to eating and ensure an appropriate and balanced diet.
Support from loved ones
Support from family and loved ones is no less important in the phytorexia treatment process. Understanding from loved ones can help a person affected by phytorexia in the recovery process and in changing unhealthy thinking and behavioral patterns. It is important that those surrounding a person struggling with phytorexia be present and supportive at every stage of his or her journey to mental and physical health. Here it is worthwhile to refrain from judgmental comments and uninvited advice, and instead – offer companionship in the process and full acceptance.
If you suspect phytorexia in yourself or someone close to you is suffering from it, do not hesitate to react. Eating disorders and body dysmorphia are real problems that can have very serious consequences for our physical and mental health.