Prevalence Of Orthorexia Nervosa Research Articles

Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among medical students of South India

Abstract Introduction: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by a relentless, uncomfortable intrusive thought pattern, stereotyped behavior, and an extreme worry about maintaining a healthy diet that pulls all consideration to food. This compulsive behavior may affect daily functioning. Medical complications of orthorexic behavior include malnutrition, anemia, digestion problems, electrolyte, hormonal imbalance, severe weight loss and excessive anxiety. Like other eating disorders, this condition causes many psychological and medical complications, and research in this area is limited. Therefore, the reason for conducting this research was to determine the prevalence and severity of ON in medical students. Aims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of ON in the 263 research samples, to compare prevalence among undergraduates and postgraduates, and to determine the association between demographic variables and a 15 item questionnare for diagnosis of orthorexia nervosa ORTO-15 scores. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of ON on the ORTO-15 scale among medical students. Sociodemographic details such as age, gender, body mass index, and level of physical activity were obtained from the study sample. Results: ON was prevalent in 29.86% of the study population (ORTO-15 score ≥40). Females had more tendency than males. ON was more prevalent in postgraduates and undergraduates, with a prevalence of 26.7% and 26.98%, respectively. Eating habits and ORTO-15 scores had a significant association. Conclusion: The propensity for ON is widespread among medical students. Increased knowledge of nutritious eating will aid in problem prevention.

Correlates of orthorexia nervosa in a sample of Lebanese adolescents: the co-moderating effect of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem between mental health issues and orthorexia nervosa

ABSTRACT A limited amount of studies exists today on the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa (ON) and associated factors in adolescents. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the correlation of body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, anxiety and depression with ON tendencies and behaviors among a sample of Lebanese adolescents (15 to 18 years old), suggesting body dissatisfaction and self-esteem as co-moderators among these factors. This cross-sectional study, conducted between May and June 2020, enrolled 555 Lebanese adolescents, using a proportionate sample from all Lebanese governorates. The results of a first linear regression, taking the ON score as the dependent variable, showed that more anxiety, following a diet to lose weight, starving oneself to lose weight and feeling pressured by media to lose weight were significantly associated with more ON. When entering the interaction body dissatisfaction by depression/anxiety as independent variables, the results showed that following a diet to lose weight, starving oneself to lose weight and feeling pressured by media to lose weight were significantly associated with more ON, whereas higher body dissatisfaction and more depression were significantly associated with less ON. Moreover, the interaction depression by body dissatisfaction showed significance with ON; in patients with high depression, high body dissatisfaction was significantly associated with higher ON. In this study, a significant strong and equivocal interactive correlation was found between ON and different demographic, sociocultural and psychological factors. Although the obtained findings remain preliminary, being taken from a limited sample from one Arabic country, they may still add to the scarcity of the literature about ON and its screening tools, as well as they may pave a way for future research in the field of the eating psychology.

Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in a group of ungraduates: dieting and physical activity role

Introduction: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is defined as the excessive fixation on healthy eating, especially focused on food quality rather than food quantity. It can either be associated to dietary restriction or not. Different possible risk factors for ON onset have been investigated, including gender, BMI, dieting and physical activity. ON prevalence in Italy is about 6.9% among the general population, while it can be extremely variable (1-76.6%) in ungraduates. Nutrition and sport sciences students appear to have an increased risk of ON.

Italian adaptation of the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (I-DOS): psychometric properties and prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among an Italian sample

PurposeOrthorexia Nervosa (ON) is described as an extreme level of preoccupation around healthy eating, accompanied by restrictive eating behaviors. During the years, different assessment instruments have been developed. The aim of the study is to adapt into Italian the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (I-DOS) and to test its psychometric properties.MethodA total sample of 422 volunteer university students (mean age = 20.70 ± 3.44, women 71.8%) completed a group of self-report questionnaires in large group sessions during their lecture time. The scales assessed ON (the I-DOS and the Orhto-15), disordered eating (Disordered Eating Questionnaire, DEQ), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II, BDI-II), obsessive and compulsive symptoms (Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised, OCI-R), and self-reported height and weight.ResultsThe fit of the unidimensional structure and reliability of the I-DOS was tested trough Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) as well as its criterion validity computing correlation coefficients among Ortho-15, DEQ, BDI-II, OCI-R, BMI. Analyses confirmed the unidimensional structure of the I-DOS with acceptable or great fit indices (CFI = 0.984; TLI = 0.978; SRMR = 0.043; RMSEA = 0.076) and the strong internal consistency (α = 0.888). The correlations path supported the criterion validity of the scale. The estimated total prevalence of both ON and ON risk was 8.1%.ConclusionsThis 10-item scale appears to be a valid and reliable measure to assess orthorexic behaviors and attitudes.Level of evidenceLevel V, descriptive cross-sectional study.

Association between impulsivity and healthy orthorexia: any moderating role of personality traits?

ABSTRACT The study objectives were to investigate correlates of healthy orthorexia (HeOr), its relation with impulsivity, and the moderating role of adaptive personality traits among a Lebanese adult sample. The sample was recruited from seven community pharmacies, from the five districts in Lebanon, chosen from a list provided by the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists in a convenient way. The questionnaire included the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) to measure HeOr, Big Five Inventory (BFI) to assess adaptive personality traits, and the I-8 scale for impulsivity. Higher extraversion (B = −4.31) was significantly associated with lower healthy orthorexia. The interaction perseverance by extraversion was associated with higher healthy orthorexia; in those with higher perseverance, higher extraversion was associated with more healthy orthorexia. Our study presents findings that could be of significant clinical relevance in the future, especially with the interest increase in Orthorexia Nervosa prevalence, which subsequently prompts more research and intrigue about HeOr. Furthermore, it places healthy eating and consistent commitment to a healthy diet within a clearly defined scientific frame, on which further investigation can be based.

“Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in a sample of patients attending Sligo/Leitrim mental health services with a diagnosis of eating disorder”

AimsThe main aim of this study is to investigate its presence in a sample of patients already diagnosed with a canonical eating disorder and also to understand eventual overlaps with other clinical disorders in order to optimize treatment and follow-up. The ORTO-15 questionnaire, developed by an Italian team of researchers in 2005, was used to achieve the above aims: it is a tool comprehensive of 15 questions that assesses eating habits perceived as healthy. Really interesting and fascinating is to comprehend if people with a diagnosis of eating disorder present orthorectic behaviour and how this emerging reality fits in the Irish society with its peculiarities and uniqueness.MethodEvery patient was asked to complete a demographic grid (elaborated by the researchers, which includes information regarding: age, gender, race, weight, height, hours of weekly exercise, years of education, employment situation, medical illnesses, smoking habits, type of diet, average weekly alcohol intake) and the Orto-15 questionnaireResultThe Point Prevalence obtained is 17.9%.ConclusionThe results obtained from this study give a clear indication of the profile of the orthorexic patient, considered that the sample was obtained from a population of people with a diagnosis of Eating Disorder: Caucasian woman in her 30sExercising 5 hours per weekSecondary educationUnemployedNon-smokerDiagnosis of Anorexia NervosaNo other comorbid psychiatric illnessesStandard pattern of eatingMinimal or absent alcohol consumptionNormal range BMIAccording to previous Italian studies (Ramacciotti et al. 2011), the expected rates of Orthorexia Nervosa in the general population are between 6.9% and 57.6%, with a peak of 81.8% in specific populations, fact that places our examined sample in the lower side of the prevalence previously considered. It is very difficult to comprehend and explain the reasons behind this fact and probably this is due to an overshadowing of symptoms with the major eating disorders. It is also significant the absence of correlation found between OCD and ON and also the fact that ON is more linked to Bulimia Nervosa in our sample rather then Anorexia Nervosa.

Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa and Its Diagnostic Tools-A Literature Review.

The aim of this article is to present the up-to-date diagnostic tools of orthorexia and markers of its prevalence on the basis of the available literature. The authors searched PubMedCentral (PMC) and Google Scholar with the search entry of “orthorexia”, “orthorexia nervosa”, and “orthorexicbehaviours”. We describe the tools of evaluation of orthorexicbehaviour (i.e., orthorexia self-test—BOT, the ORTO-15 questionnaire, Eating Habits Questionnaire—EHQ, Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale—DOS, Teruel Orthorexia Scale—TOS, Barcelona Orthorexia Scale—BOS, and Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory—ONI), and offer a review of the studies on orthorexia nervosa. We conclude that there are no reliable data regarding the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa. The available studies point to significant differences in the prevalence depending on the value of cut-off points and tools used. The prevalence varies across countries and across populations, ranging from 6.9% in the Italian population to 88.7% in the group of Brazilian students of dieting. Thus, it indicates that some groups seem to be susceptible to the risk of ON more than others. It is a challenge to determine the prevalence of orthorexia, and any obtained results should be treated with caution. Consequently, we claim that the use of the ORTO-15 questionnaire to diagnose orthorexia is questionable due to a high percentage of falsely positive results.

“Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in a sample of patients attending sligo/leitrim mental health services with a diagnosis of eating disorder”

IntroductionThe term Orthorexia derives from the Greek “ortho – correct” and “orexis – appetite”; Orthorexia Nervosa is a pathological fixation with healthy eating that, starting with the idea to obtain a maximum health with a proper diet, leads to malnourishment and other medical sequelae, loss of relationships, loss of self-esteem, poor quality of life in general. Orthorexia, despite receiving broad empirical evidence, is not currently included in any psychiatric diagnostic manual.ObjectivesThe main aim of this study is to investigate its presence in a sample of patients already diagnosed with a canonical eating disorder and also to understand eventual overlaps with other clinical disorders in order to optimize treatment and follow up.MethodsThe ORTO-15 questionnaire, developed by an Italian team of researchers in 2005, was used to achieve the above aims: it is a tool comprehensive of 15 questions that assesses eating habits perceived as healthy. Really interesting and fascinating is to comprehend if people with a diagnosis of eating disorder present orthorectic behaviour and how this emerging reality fits in the Irish society with its peculiarities and uniqueness.ResultsThe Point Prevalence obtained is 17.9%. The expected rates of Orthorexia Nervosa in the general population are between 6.9% and 57.6%, with a peak of 81.8% in specific populations, fact that places our examined sample in the lower side of the prevalence previously considered in other studies.ConclusionsIt is significant the absence of correlation found between OCD and ON and that ON is more linked to Bulimia Nervosa rather than Anorexia Nervosa.

Psychometric evaluation of the French version of the Düsseldorfer Orthorexia Skala (DOS) and prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among university students.

This study aimed at obtaining a French version of the DOS (F-DOS) and evaluating its psychometric properties in a sample of university students, then assessing the prevalence of orthorexic eating behavior among the participants. The F-DOS was obtained using back translation, and then administered to 3235 university students (10.32% men, 89.67% women) with a mean age of 21.13 (SD = 2.23). The Eating Habits Questionnaire and Eating Attitudes Test were used to assess convergent and divergent validities, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to explore the factor structure. Ordinal ⍵ of F-DOS was 0.87, indicating very good internal consistency. F-DOS and EHQ total scores were strongly correlated (rs = 0.74, p < 0.001), indicating very good construct validity. Factor analysis revealed a well-fitted one-factor model. Regarding Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) prevalence, according to DOS cut-off score, 3.28% of participants could be considered having ON, while an additional 11.31% could be at risk of developing ON. The F-DOS appears to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess orthorexic eating behavior. ON prevalence in college students appeared similar to Germany and lower than in the US. Descriptive (cross-sectional) study, Level V.

The Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa in Polish and Lebanese Adults and Its Relationship with Sociodemographic Variables and BMI Ranges: A Cross-Cultural Perspective.

The prevalence of orthorexia nervosa (ON) appears to be increasing, and more research into its cross-cultural aspects is required to provide culturally appropriate psychological treatment. Until now, there has been relatively little research published about ON across cultures. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to determine: (1) the prevalence of ON in Polish and Lebanese adults and (2) the association between ON and sociodemographic variables and Body Mass Index (BMI) in two culturally different samples. One thousand two hundred and sixty-two adults participated in the present study (NPoland = 743 adults; NLebanon = 519 adults). The Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale and the Eating Habits Questionnaire were used in the present study. Information about age, sex, anthropometry, and marital status was obtained from all participants as well. The Polish sample had an ON prevalence rate of 2.6%, while the Lebanese sample had an ON prevalence rate of 8.4%. No significant correlation was found between ON and age in both samples. A statistically significant difference was found between marital status and country on ON, with the highest mean score seen among Lebanese singles. In Lebanon, having a low of BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2 compared to a high BMI was significantly associated with lower ON tendencies, while this association was not significant among Polish participants. This study was the second to focus on the prevalence of ON in Western and non-Western countries and its association with sociodemographic characteristics and BMI ranges. Knowledge about ON and its correlates in diverse populations may inform the design of culturally tailored behavior change interventions and the development of culturally appropriate tools in various groups to improve their dietary patterns.

To further understand orthorexia nervosa: DOS validity for the Portuguese population and its relationship with psychological indicators, sex, BMI and dietary pattern.

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is considered a pathological fixation with healthy eating. Despite recent research focus, there is still a lot of inconsistent information concerning ON, including its definition and validity of its measuring tools. This study aimed to extend the current knowledge on ON, by developing and validating the Portuguese adaptation of the Dusseldorf Orthorexie Scale (DOS) and studying its prevalence and relationship with different psychological indicators, sex, BMI and dietary pattern. Data were collected online, through self-report questionnaires, and two different samples were collected, with 513 (Sample 1) and 541 participants (Sample 2) from the general population. DOS' one-dimensional factorial structure and reliability was confirmed. ON's prevalence was 10.52%. Results revealed that women present higher scores on DOS than men, but no differences were found regarding the BMI groups. DOS was positively related to all psychological indicators, with moderate and strong relationships with disordered eating and inflexible eating. Sample 2 was used to explore ON's differences between dietary patterns, with results demonstrating that omnivores present significantly lower levels of orthorexic tendencies, when compared with the vegetarian, vegan, and paleo groups. The present study is the first to successfully validate a measure that assesses ON for the Portuguese population and adds to the existing literature in several other important ON aspects. Level V-validation study.

Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among nutrition students and nutritionists: Pilot study

Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is defined as an excessive concern in choosing and preparing of meals according to strict rules. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of ON among nutrition students and nutritionists and to identify the related variables affected by the ON tendency. This cross-sectional study was carried out in July and August of 2019 among 421 nutrition students from six universities, in addition to nutritionists in Jordan. Participants completed questionnaire related to individual characteristics and the ORTO-15 scale. Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) tendency was measured using ORTO-15 questionnaire, referring to different diagnostic thresholds (40/35). p<0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Orthorexia had 72.0% prevalence in our sample using the 40-point threshold; the figure was reasonably lower with the 35-point threshold (31.8%). Also, ON tendency was significantly affected by BMI categories (p=0.007) and gender (p=0.043) at 35-point threshold. Males have more tendency (39.4%) than females (28.6%) (p=0.029). The results of this study highlight the magnitude of ON in Jordan. Using cut-off at 35 is preferable than cut-off at 40 to identify factors influencing ON. Moreover, ON tendency is affected by gender and BMI and not affected by educational level.

To the question about the prevalence of prenosological forms of eating disorders among students of a medical university

Today eating disorders and metabolic disorders are increasingly observed among the adult and children’s population. One of the ways to prevent these pathologies is the timely detection and correction of prenosological forms, one of them is orthorexia neurosa. The aim of our study was to identify the prevalence and characteristics of the manifestation of orthorexia nervosa (ON) among students. A survey was conducted among 60 students of a medical university with the «ORTO-15» and the «Food Frequency Questionnaire questionnaires» to obtain the necessary data. We took into account the height and weight of students and calculated body mass index (BMI) according to the Kettle’s formula. The results were statistically processed and calculated the average value (M), the deviation from the average (m). The correlation dependence between the values was estimated by the nonparametric Spearman’s coefficient (p). The data were considered statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05 and a significance level of at least 95 %. The study showed a high prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among the examined individuals (in 80 % of cases, signs of ON were determined). The average BMI was 24.35 ± 5.3 among men and 20.9 ± 4.7 among girls. The normal BMI values among men were determined reliably more often than among girls (p˂0.05). In this case, a correlation between the values of BMI and the severity of signs of orthorexia nervosa was not found among students. According to the results of the «Food Frequency Questionnaire», a significant concern was identified with nutrition issues, both among girls and men. The above allowed us to conclude that the subjects examined constituted a risk group for the formation of mental disorders and eating disorders.

Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in university students and its relationship with psychopathological aspects of eating behaviour disorders

IntroductionOrthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by an obsession with healthy eating, which may lead to severe physical, psychological and social disorders. It is particularly important to research this problem in populations that do not receive clinical care in order to improve early detection and treatment.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to research the prevalence of ON in a population of Spanish university students and to analyze the possible associations between ON and psychological traits and behaviors that are common to ED.MethodA cross-sectional study with 454 students from the University of Castilla La Mancha, Spain. In total, 295 women and 159 men participated, aged between 18 and 41 years. The ORTO-11-ES questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2) were used for this study. The chi squared test was used to compare the homogeneity among the different groups.ResultsThe scores on the ORTO-11-ES suggested that 17% of students were at risk of ON. The scores on the EDI-2 for the group at risk of ON were significant, compared to the remaining individuals, regarding their drive for thinness (17.1% vs 2.1%), bulimia (2.6% vs 0%), body dissatisfaction (26.3% vs. 12.4%), perfectionism (14.5% vs 4.8%), interoceptive awareness (13.2% vs 1.3%), asceticism (15.8% vs 3.7%) and impulsiveness (9.2% vs 1.9%).Discussion and conclusionThese findings suggest that many of the psychological and behavioral aspects of ED are shared by people who are at risk of ON. Future research should use longitudinal data, examining the temporal relationship among these variables or other underlying variables that may contribute to the concurrence of ED and ON.

A cross-sectional study to assess prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa among endurance sports athletes.

A cross-sectional study to assess prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa among endurance sports athletes.

Psychometric evaluation of the English version of the Düsseldorf Orthorexie Scale (DOS) and the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among a U.S. student sample.

Recently, the concept of orthorexia nervosa (ON) as a potential new variant of disordered eating behavior has gained popularity. However, published prevalence rates appear to be questionable given the lack of validity of the available questionnaires. The Düsseldorf Orthorexie Scale (DOS) is a validated questionnaire only available in German to measure orthorexic behavior. The DOS was translated into English using the back-translation process. Cronbach's alpha was used to establish internal consistency and an intra-class correlation coefficient was calculated to assess reliability. The Eating Habits Questionnaire (EHQ) was used to test construct validity and the Eating Disorders Inventory was used to test discriminant validity. Principal and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out to test the factor structure. The sample consists of 384 university students in the U.S. English (E)-DOS and EHQ were highly correlated (r = 0.76, p < .001) indicating very good construct validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient reached 0.88, indicating very good internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a poorly fitted one-factor model, but good results for the standardized coefficients for the 10 items ranging between 0.52 and 0.82 were found. According to the E-DOS, 8.0% of the students exceeded the preliminary cut-off score, while an additional 12.4% would be considered being at risk of developing ON. The E-DOS appears to be a valid, reliable measure for assessing ON. The results revealed higher prevalence rates for orthorexic behavior among U.S. students compared to German students. Cultural aspects could play a role in those differences. Descriptive study, Level V.

Instagram use is linked to increased symptoms of orthorexia nervosa

PurposeSocial media use is ever increasing amongst young adults and has previously been shown to have negative effects on body image, depression, social comparison, and disordered eating. One eating disorder of interest in this context is orthorexia nervosa, an obsession with eating healthily. High orthorexia nervosa prevalence has been found in populations who take an active interest in their health and body and is frequently comorbid with anorexia nervosa. Here, we investigate links between social media use, in particularly Instagram and orthorexia nervosa symptoms.MethodsWe conducted an online survey of social media users (N = 680) following health food accounts. We assessed their social media use, eating behaviours, and orthorexia nervosa symptoms using the ORTO-15 inventory.ResultsHigher Instagram use was associated with a greater tendency towards orthorexia nervosa, with no other social media channel having this effect. In exploratory analyses Twitter showed a small positive association with orthorexia symptoms. BMI and age had no association with orthorexia nervosa. The prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among the study population was 49%, which is significantly higher than the general population (<1%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the healthy eating community on Instagram has a high prevalence of orthorexia symptoms, with higher Instagram use being linked to increased symptoms. These findings highlight the implications social media can have on psychological wellbeing, and the influence social media ‘celebrities’ may have over hundreds of thousands of individuals. These results may also have clinical implications for eating disorder development and recovery.

Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa in Health and Non-Health Profession College

Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa in Health and Non-Health Profession College

We need new tools to assess Orthorexia Nervosa. A commentary on “Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa among College Students Based on Bratman’s Test and Associated Tendencies”

We need new tools to assess Orthorexia Nervosa. A commentary on “Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa among College Students Based on Bratman’s Test and Associated Tendencies”

Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa among College Students Based on Bratman's Test and Associated Tendencies

Disordered eating is prevalent among college student populations, and Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is being explored as a new type of eating disorder. There is currently no standardized ON diagnostic tool, and the majority of ON research has been conducted among European populations. The present study explored the Bratman Orthorexia Test (BOT) for ON diagnosis, and its relationship to validated tools for assessing disordered eating, body dysmorphic, and obsessive‐compulsive tendencies among college students attending a western university. A convenience sample of 448 college students with a mean age of 22 years was recruited to complete an online survey that included the BOT, Eating Attitudes Test‐26 (EAT‐26), Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ), Obsessive Compulsive Inventory, Revised (OCI‐R) and demographics. Spearman correlation, Mann‐Whitney U, Kruskal‐Wallis, chi‐square, and multiple linear regressions were used for analyses. The average BOT score of 4.71 was near the “health fanatic” range, with Hispanic/Latino subjects and overweight/obese students having significantly higher median BOT scores. Gender, age, and college major were not significantly associated with BOT score. Significant positive correlations were observed between total BOT and EAT‐26 scores (r=.47, p&lt;0.01), BOT and BDDQ scores (r=.25, p&lt;0.01), and BOT and OCI‐R scores (r=.19, p&lt;0.01). ON tendencies may exist among college students and Hispanic/Latino and overweight/obese students may be at increased risk. Further research is needed to determine ON risk factors among diverse student populations in order to inform prevention and treatment approaches on college campuses.