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In this op-ed, psychologist Giulia Suro explains how to responsibly navigate wellness trends, and how to know if you're consumption of wellness messaging is going too far.
A client of mine first heard about a green powder promising better digestion, clearer skin, and more energy on a podcast. Just another ad, she thought. But then it appeared in an influencer’s smoothie, on her Instagram feed, and in YouTube ads. Within a week, she bought it. Maybe this sounds familiar. Wellness messaging doesn’t always just try to persuade us directly. Instead, it often surrounds us until opting in feels like common sense. These offerings are typically presented as helpful, even essential, especially for those already trying to do everything “right.” But when the pressure to optimize begins to shape how we think, spend, and eat, it can quietly erode our well-being instead of supporting it.
The pursuit of wellness, which increasingly looks like the pressure to perfect our lives and maximize our health, can quickly become overwhelming. We are told that if we make the right choices and spend the right amount of money, we can heal ourselves with food, supplements, and rituals. As a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders, I have seen how easily this kind of messaging can encourage behavior that spirals from self-care into self-surveillance, especially for those already vulnerable to perfectionism or anxiety around food.
Wellness media can play into our fears, whether it is fear of illness, missing out, or falling behind. And, the advice is always shifting. One day it’s seed oils, the next it’s oat milk. One week it is creatine, the next it is snail-mucin masks. In a culture where wellness trends change by the week and health is frequently treated like a personal project, it can be hard to tell what's worth your time — and when someone’s behavior has gone too far. The line between commitment and obsession is often blurry, especially when restriction is praised and the chasing of perfection is sold as self-care. One of the consequences of this kind of obsessive adherence to wellness is Orthorexia — a condition that is all too easy to miss.
Orthorexia is a mental health condition that can hide in plain sight. Unlike more widely recognized diagnoses like anorexia, orthorexia is not driven by a pursuit of weight loss, but rather by an obsession with eating in a way that is “pure,” “clean,” or perfectly healthy. On the surface, it can look like discipline or dedication to wellness. But for some, the pursuit of health can become rigid, all-consuming, or socially isolating.
These experiences exist on a spectrum. Caring about nutrition or enjoying vegetables does not mean you have orthorexia. The difference lies in the intensity, the inflexibility, and the impact on your mental and emotional life. For many of my clients with Orthorexia, what begins as an interest in health or a desire for control can turn into anxiety that shrinks their lives and cuts them off from others.
So where is the line? Of course, not everyone who follows wellness ideas — even very closely — will develop Orthorexia. Still, we could all stand to be more savvy consumers of these kinds of trends. Here's what you need to know.
Signs that your interest in wellness is becoming problematic
Recognize any of these signs in yourself? You might want to reach out to a mental health professional to help you assess your needs.
How to read wellness content with a critical eye
We all probably engage with wellness content at one point or another. Just because it has the potential to be taken too far doesn't mean you need to avoid it all together, just that you need to know how to be skeptical. Here's what to know:
Extreme language should raise red flags. Headlines like “15 foods you should never eat” rely on fear and urgency rather than nuance. Words like “should,” “always,” “never,” “clean,” or “toxic” propel the kind of black-and-white thinking that can be jet fuel for anxiety. In the absence of a life-threatening condition, sound health guidance should leave room for flexibility and individual needs.
Perfectionism thrives in wellness spaces. When foods are designated as “good” or “bad,” health becomes something you either succeed or fail at. And because the goals wellness trends encourage are often vague, like “detoxing your body” or “eliminating inflammation,” there is always something more to chase. This mindset can distort not only how we view food but also how we see ourselves, with self-worth becoming tied to how closely we follow the rules.
For some, these sorts of rules provide a sense of purpose. In a world that can feel unpredictable, tracking grams of protein or cutting out gluten can be a way to stay grounded. When life feels out of control, “clean” eating can create the illusion of order. But when that focus becomes too narrow, the cost is real. It can crowd out spontaneity, joy, and connection. One of my clients considered skipping a trip to an all-inclusive resort because she wasn’t sure if she would be able to eat all organic foods. Over time, these behaviors also raise the risk of anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion, especially when the pursuit of perfection feels endless.
It is also important to notice how wellness media makes you feel. If a post leaves you anxious, ashamed, or suddenly unsure of your body, that’s a signal to pause. You are allowed to step away from anything that makes you or your world feel smaller.
Our brains are wired to seek out information that confirms what we already believe. This is known as confirmation bias, and social media platforms amplify it. When you engage with content about elimination diets or “what I eat in a day” videos, or follow influencers who promote exercise routines and food rules, the algorithms push you more of the same. Over time, your feeds can become echo chambers that reinforce narrow ideas, even when these concepts are based more on fear than fact. Following a wider range of voices can help create space for balance and critical thinking.
Developing a more skeptical lens is not about being cynical. It is about learning to tell the difference between genuine guidance and marketing dressed up as self-care. In a world that constantly tries to sell you solutions, protecting your mental health starts with asking better questions.
Before adopting a new food rule or wellness trend, consider the source. Is the advice based on solid research, or is it built on personal stories and viral appeal? The most reliable evidence comes from well-designed trials that are based on randomized controls and double blind to account for bias and variability.
Another helpful filter you can use is asking yourself who benefits. If someone is selling both the problem and the solution, it is worth pausing. A curated aesthetic is not the same as informed advice. It’s also important to acknowledge that substantial portions of the wellness industry tend to be rooted in misogyny, driven by capitalism, and shaped by an ideal that is often thin, affluent and white, excluding entire communities from what is considered wellness. While women are pressured to constantly fix and monitor themselves, the profits often go to white, male-owned companies that capitalize on that insecurity.
This does not mean that all messages promoted by wellness media are harmful. Movement, nourishment, and self-care rituals can support well-being, but only when they come with flexibility. If your wellness habits start to feel all-consuming or isolating, they may actually be a way of trying to cope with something deeper. That’s a good moment to check in with yourself.
True well-being involves more than what you eat or how you move. It includes relationships, creativity, rest, and a sense of meaning. The more space you build for those things, the less power wellness trends will have over you. And the easier it becomes to build a life that feels good to live.
