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Staśkiewicz-Bartecka W, Masłoń K, Kołodziejczyk A, Białek-Dratwa A, Kiciak A, Jaruga-Sękowska S, Dobkowska-Szefer D, Grajek M, Kowalski O, Kardas M. Nutritional knowledge, insulin resistance, and the risk of orthorexia nervosa: a comparative cross-sectional study among polish women. Front Public Health 2025; 13:1562866. [PMID: 40177090 PMCID: PMC11962019 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1562866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2025] [Accepted: 03/07/2025] [Indexed: 04/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Background The global rise in insulin resistance has led to an increased emphasis on dietary modifications as a primary strategy for its management. While such interventions are essential for improving metabolic health, they can also contribute to heightened nutritional knowledge. However, this increased focus on diet may inadvertently lead to the development of disordered eating patterns, including orthorexia nervosa. This study aimed to determine the level of nutritional knowledge regarding proper eating habits among women with insulin resistance and to assess the relationship between this knowledge and the risk of developing orthorexia nervosa. Methods The study was using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview method, involving 133 female participants from a primary care clinic in Katowice, Poland. Of these, 101 women had a medically confirmed diagnosis of insulin resistance, and 32 were healthy controls. Data were collected using an online survey, which included a demographic section, a 15-item questionnaire to assess nutritional knowledge, and the ORTO-15 tool to evaluate orthorexia nervosa risk. Results Women with insulin resistance had significantly higher Body Mass Index values and demonstrated greater nutritional knowledge than their healthy counterparts. However, 56.44% of women with insulin resistance were at risk of orthorexia nervosa, compared to 15.63% of the control group. Increased dietary knowledge in women with insulin resistance was also associated with a higher risk of developing orthorexic behavior. Conclusion The findings indicate that while women with insulin resistance benefit from improved nutritional knowledge in managing their condition, this knowledge may simultaneously increase their risk of developing orthorexia nervosa. Balancing the promotion of healthy eating habits with strategies that prevent the emergence of distorted eating behaviors is crucial. Future interventions should emphasize flexibility, psychological support, and individualized guidance to ensure both metabolic and mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka
- Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Karolina Masłoń
- Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Kołodziejczyk
- Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Białek-Dratwa
- Department of Human Nutrition, Department of Dietetics, School of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Agata Kiciak
- Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Sylwia Jaruga-Sękowska
- Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Bytom, Poland
| | - Daria Dobkowska-Szefer
- Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Mateusz Grajek
- Department of Public Health, Department of Public Health Policy, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Bytom, Poland
| | - Oskar Kowalski
- Department of Human Nutrition, Department of Dietetics, School of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Marek Kardas
- Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
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Bellikci-Koyu E, Karaağaç Y, Yürük AA. Factors associated with food label use: focus on healthy aspects of orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord 2024; 29:32. [PMID: 38703233 PMCID: PMC11069476 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-024-01661-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the potential relationships between the use of different section of food label, and healthy and pathological aspects of orthorexia among adults. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey (n = 1326). Inclusion criteria were being 19-64 years and graduated from at least primary school. Pregnant and lactating women were excluded. Data were collected using questionnaire including socio-demographic variables, lifestyle factors, body weight and height, frequency of reading different sections of food label ("always", "when buying a food for the first time", "when comparing similar packaged foods", "rarely", "never"), food label literacy, and Teruel Orthorexia Scale. Participants were categorized as nutrition facts panel-users, ingredients list-users or claim-users if they read at least one item from the relevant parts. RESULTS The proportions of nutrition facts, ingredients list, and claims sections users were 72.3%, 76.3%, and 79.9%, respectively. Both healthy and pathological aspects of orthorexia were associated with reading food labels. The healthy orthorexia had the strongest association with using the ingredients list (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.41-2.20), whereas the orthorexia nervosa showed the highest association with using nutrition facts panel (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.20-1.81). While women, physically active participants and those with higher food label literacy were more likely to use all sections of food labels; older age, having children, and chronic disease increased the likelihood of using claims and ingredients list (p < 0.05). Besides, following a diet was associated with higher use of nutrition facts and ingredients list (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrates that food label users have higher orthorexia tendencies compared to non-users. Of the food label sections, healthy orthorexia showed the strongest association with use of the list of ingredients, while pathological orthorexia showed the strongest association with use of the nutrition facts panel. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, cross-sectional study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Bellikci-Koyu
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Izmir, Türkiye
| | - Yasemin Karaağaç
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Izmir, Türkiye
| | - Armağan Aytuğ Yürük
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye.
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Alshaibani L, Elmasry A, Kazerooni A, Alsaeed J, Alsendy K, Alaamer R, Buhassan Z, Alaqaili R, Ghazzawi H, Pandi-Perumal SR, Trabelsi K, Jahrami H. Reliability generalization meta-analysis of orthorexia nervosa using the ORTO-11/12/15/R scale in all populations and language versions. J Eat Disord 2024; 12:39. [PMID: 38504366 PMCID: PMC10949742 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-024-00997-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ORTO scale was developed in 2004 as a self-report questionnaire to assess symptoms of orthorexia nervosa (ON). ON is an unhealthy preoccupation with eating healthy food. The scale aims to measure obsessive attitudes and behaviors related to the selection, purchase, preparation, and consumption of pure, healthy food. Since its development, the ORTO-15 has been adapted into several shorter versions. The objective was to conduct a reliability generalization meta-analysis of the ORTO scale and its variant versions in all populations and languages. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies reporting the internal consistency of ORTO. Random-effect models were used to evaluate summary statistics of reliability coefficients, weighting the coefficients by the inverse variance using the restricted maximum likelihood method. The heterogeneity among the reliability coefficients was evaluated and assessed using numerous statistical metrics. The tau (τ), tau2 (τ2), I2, H2, R2, df, and the Q-statistic are among those obtained. Meta-regression analyses were used to examine moderators such as age and sex. RESULTS Twenty-one studies (k = 21) involving 11,167 participants (n = 11,167) were analyzed. The overall effect estimate on internal consistency was 0.59 (95% CI 0.49-0.68), with a minimum reliability coefficient of 0.23 and a maximum reliability coefficient of 0.83. The heterogeneity statistics were found to have an I2 of 99.31%, which suggested high heterogeneity owing to a decrease in the confidence interval (95% CI) and an increase in variability. Sensitivity analysis revealed that a few studies strongly influenced the overall estimate. Egger's test suggested possible publication bias. Neither age nor sex significantly moderated reliability via meta-regression. CONCLUSIONS The ORTO scale has a relatively low pooled reliability coefficient. Alternative ON assessment tools with enhanced psychometric properties are needed. Clinicians should not base diagnoses or treatment decisions on ORTO alone. Comprehensive psychiatric assessment is essential for accurate ON evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Alshaibani
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Ahmed Elmasry
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Ahmed Kazerooni
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Joud Alsaeed
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Khalwa Alsendy
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Reem Alaamer
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Zainab Buhassan
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Raghad Alaqaili
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Hadeel Ghazzawi
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Seithikurippu R Pandi-Perumal
- Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
- Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Khaled Trabelsi
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia
- Research Laboratory: Education, Motricity, Sport and Health, EM2S, LR19JS01, University of Sfax, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Haitham Jahrami
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.
- Government Hospitals, Manama, Bahrain.
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Ng QX, Lee DYX, Yau CE, Han MX, Liew JJL, Teoh SE, Ong C, Yaow CYL, Chee KT. On Orthorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review of Reviews. Psychopathology 2024; 57:1-14. [PMID: 38432209 PMCID: PMC11326525 DOI: 10.1159/000536379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Orthorexia nervosa (ON), characterized by a pathological preoccupation with "extreme dietary purity," is increasingly observed as a mental health condition among young adults and the general population. However, its diagnosis is not formally recognized and has remained contentious. OBJECTIVE In this systematic review, we attempt to overview previous reviews on ON, focusing on the methodological and conceptual issues with ON. This would serve both as a summary and a way to highlight gaps in earlier research. METHODS This systematic review took reference from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines, and using combinations of the search terms ("orthorexia" OR "orthorexia nervosa" OR "ON") AND ("review" OR "systematic review" OR "meta-analysis"), a literature search was performed on EMBASE, Medline and PsycINFO databases from inception up to October 31, 2023. Articles were included if (1) they were written or translated into English and (2) contained information pertaining to the diagnostic stability or validity of ON, or instruments used to measure ON symptoms and behaviors. Only review articles with a systematic literature search approach were included. RESULTS A total of 22 reviews were qualitatively reviewed. Several studies have reported variable prevalence of ON and highlighted the lack of thoroughly evaluated measures of ON with clear psychometric properties, with no reliable estimates. ORTO-15 and its variations such as ORTO-11, ORTO-12 are popularly used, although their use is discouraged. Existing instruments lack specificity for pathology and several disagreements on the conceptualization and hence diagnostic criteria of ON exist. DISCUSSION Previous reviews have consistently highlighted the highly variable (and contradictory) prevalence rates with different instruments to measure ON, lack of stable factor structure and psychometrics across ON measures, paucity of data on ON in clinical samples, and a need for a modern re-conceptualization of ON. The diagnosis of ON is challenging as it likely spans a spectrum from "normal" to "abnormal," and "functional" to "dysfunctional." "Non-pathological" orthorexia is not related to psychopathological constructs in the same way that ON is.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Xiang Ng
- Health Services Research Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dawn Yi Xin Lee
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Chun En Yau
- NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ming Xuan Han
- Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Jin Li Liew
- NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Seth En Teoh
- NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Clarence Ong
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Clyve Yu Leon Yaow
- NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kuan Tsee Chee
- Department of General and Community Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
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Argyrides M, Anastasiades E, Maïano C, Swami V. Greek adaptation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) in adults from the Republic of Cyprus: A bidimensional model may not be universal. Appetite 2024; 194:107180. [PMID: 38145878 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) is a 17-item instrument designed to assess distinct facets of Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) and Healthy Orthorexia (HO). While a bidimensional model of TOS scores has been supported in diverse national and linguistic groups, the psychometric properties of the TOS have not been previously assessed in Greek-speaking populations. To rectify this, we assessed the psychometric properties of a novel Greek translation of the TOS in a sample of adults from Cyprus. A total of 1248 respondents (710 women, 538 men) completed the Greek TOS, as well as previously validated measures of perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, eating restriction, negative affect, and appearance evaluation. Our results showed that a bidimensional model of the TOS had less-than-adequate fit when modelled using both confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). Conversely, both exploratory factor analysis and ESEM supported extraction of a 3-factor model consisting of a HO facet and separate components of emotional orthorexia and cognitive-social orthorexia. This 3-factor model showed a lack of measurement bias (measurement invariance across gender identity and lack of differential item functioning as function of age and body mass index), but there were differences in latent factor means as function of respondent age and body mass index. The 3-factor model showed adequate evidence of construct validity, with the latent emotional orthorexia and cognitive-social orthorexia facets showing significant and moderate associations with the additional constructs measured in the survey. Broadly speaking, these findings support the psychometric properties of a 3-factor model of the Greek TOS, but also suggest that the bidimensional model of the TOS may not have universal applicability. We encourage further assessments of factorial validity in other national and linguistic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios Argyrides
- Eating and Appearance Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Neapolis University Pafos, Paphos, Cyprus.
| | - Elly Anastasiades
- Eating and Appearance Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Neapolis University Pafos, Paphos, Cyprus
| | - Christophe Maïano
- Cyberpsychology Laboratory and Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université Du Québec en Outaouais, Saint-Jérôme, Canada; Substantive-Methodological Synergy Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Viren Swami
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychological Medicine, Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Styk W, Gortat M, Samardakiewicz-Kirol E, Zmorzynski S, Samardakiewicz M. Measuring Pathological and Nonpathological Orthorexic Behavior: Validation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) among Polish Adults. Nutrients 2024; 16:638. [PMID: 38474767 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Measuring orthorexia nervosa is challenging due to the use of various existing tools and problems with sample representativeness. Another challenge for the Polish population is the adaptation of existing research tools and the evaluation of their relevance and research reliability. Our research aimed to adapt the TOS to the Polish language and measure pathological and nonpathological orthorexic behavior among the Polish population. The adaptation of the PL-TOS has high psychometric value and allows us to assess healthy and nervous orthorexia levels. This scale can be used not only for further research but also for diagnostic purposes in the daily work of clinicians and psychologists. Our results obtained in the present study indicate a correlation between TOS and both the use of supplements and diet. Higher TOS, ORTO_R and KZZJ_Diet Restrictions scores were obtained for individuals using dietary supplements than for those not using dietary supplements. In the future, it is worth conducting research aimed at various risk groups of individuals with orthorexia to confirm the psychometric properties of this adaptation of the TOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Styk
- Academic Laboratory of Psychological Tests, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Mateusz Gortat
- Institute of Education and Practical Improvement, Association of Young Scientists in Poland, 20-560 Lublin, Poland
| | - Emilia Samardakiewicz-Kirol
- Simulation Laboratory for Patient Safety, Department of Medical Education, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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Sezer Katar K, Şahin B, Kurtoğlu MB. Healthy orthorexia, orthorexia nervosa, and personality traits in a community sample in Turkey. Int J Psychiatry Med 2024; 59:83-100. [PMID: 37542522 DOI: 10.1177/00912174231194745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a rigid preoccupation with a perceived healthy diet. However, little is known about healthy orthorexia compared to orthorexia nervosa. The current study examined the relationship between healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa and personality traits in a Turkish sample. METHODS Three hundred fifty participants from a community sample aged 18-65 were included in the study. Participants completed a sociodemographic data collection form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), and the 10-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). RESULTS The frequency of healthy orthorexia was 32.3% and orthorexia nervosa was 10.2%. There were no differences between genders regarding healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa scores. Healthy orthorexia symptoms were negatively correlated with depression and anxiety (r = -0.11 and r = -0.20, respectively, P < .05), while they were positively correlated with agreeableness (r = 0.17), conscientiousness (r = 0.14), and extraversion (r = 0.15). Orthorexia nervosa symptoms were positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.12), depression (r = 0.10), and healthy orthorexia (r = 0.55). Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that depression was negatively associated with healthy orthorexia symptoms, explaining 4% of the variance. The agreeableness trait was positively associated with healthy orthorexia symptoms, explaining 4% of the variance. However, no specific personality trait was associated with orthorexia nervosa symptoms. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, the present study is the first to examine the relationships between personality traits, healthy orthorexia, and orthorexia nervosa symptoms in a Turkish sample. Sociocultural factors may be important for understanding orthorexia nervosa and healthy eating behaviors in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kübra Sezer Katar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Başak Şahin
- Department of Psychiatry, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Batuhan Kurtoğlu
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Gaziantep, Turkey
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López-Gil JF, Tárraga-López PJ, Soledad Hershey M, López-Bueno R, Gutiérrez-Espinoza H, Soler-Marín A, Fernández-Montero A, Victoria-Montesinos D. Overall proportion of orthorexia nervosa symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis including 30 476 individuals from 18 countries. J Glob Health 2023; 13:04087. [PMID: 37917875 PMCID: PMC10622118 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.04087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To date, no previous meta-analysis has determined the overall proportion of orthorexia nervosa symptoms on a global scale. The aim of the present study was 2-fold: first, to establish the overall proportion of orthorexia nervosa symptoms on a global scale, assessed with the ORTO-15 questionnaire; and second, to determine the role of sex, type of population, mean age, body mass index, and the temporal trend in relation to orthorexia nervosa symptoms. Methods Four databases were searched (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) with date limits from January 2005 to June 2023. Studies assessing the proportion of orthorexia nervosa assessed using the ORTO-15 questionnaire with a cutoff of <35 or <40 points were included in this review. Results The overall proportion of orthorexia nervosa symptoms (using the cutoff <35 points) was 27.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 23.5-31.6, I2 = 97.0%). In addition, no significant differences were observed between females (34.6%, 95% CI = 29.5-39.8, I2 = 96.1%) and males (32.1%, 95% CI = 26.5-38.1, I2 = 93.1%). According to the type of population, the highest overall proportion was found in people focused on sports performance or body composition (34.5%, 95% CI = 23.1-47.0, I2 = 98.0%). Notwithstanding, caution should be exercised in interpreting this result, as reverse causality could be a potential pitfall in this relationship. Conclusions We found that approximately three out of 10 study participants showed orthorexia nervosa symptoms according to the ORTO-15 tool. This overall proportion was higher in those participants who were athletes or fitness practitioners. Over the years, the proportion of orthorexia nervosa symptoms seems to be increasing. These high percentages and their increase are worrisome from a public health perspective and highlight the need to develop psychometric instruments to aid in clinical diagnosis and treatment efficacy. Registration PROSPERO (CRD42022350873).
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Affiliation(s)
- José Francisco López-Gil
- Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Pedro Juan Tárraga-López
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Maria Soledad Hershey
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- University of Navarra, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rubén López-Bueno
- Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Soler-Marín
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Alejandro Fernández-Montero
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Navarra, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Birgegård A, Mantilla EF, Breithaupt LE, Borg S, Sanzari CM, Padalecki S, Hedlund E, Bulik CM. Proposal for increasing diagnostic clarity in research and clinical practice by renaming and reframing atypical anorexia nervosa as "Restrictive Eating Disorder" (RED). Eat Behav 2023; 50:101750. [PMID: 37263139 DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), is characterized by meeting all criteria for anorexia nervosa (AN) except for weight being within or above the "normal" range despite significant weight loss. The current definition is plagued by several problems, resulting in widely heterogeneous operationalizations in research and clinical practice. As such, the poorly defined diagnosis of AAN negatively impacts affected individuals and frustrates research attempts to better understand the syndrome. We consider conceptual flaws in the AAN description and contend that the undefined weight range and nature of weight loss renders these two factors functionally inapplicable in research and practice. They also represent a departure from the originally intended use of the AAN category, i.e., arresting a negative weight trajectory likely to result in AN, making the target population, and the application of the label, unclear. We propose revised criteria and a new name, restrictive eating disorder (RED), intended to reduce stigma and encompass a wide but better-defined range of presentations. The RED criteria focus on clinically significant restrictive behavior that disrupts normal living (i.e., impairment), and cognitive symptoms of overevaluation, disturbed experience, and lack of recognition of illness seriousness. We believe that RED may enable more appropriate clinical application, but also inspire coordinated research toward a more valid psychiatric nosology in the eating disorders field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Birgegård
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Emma Forsén Mantilla
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lauren E Breithaupt
- Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stina Borg
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christina M Sanzari
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sophie Padalecki
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, Elon University, NC, USA
| | - Elin Hedlund
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cynthia M Bulik
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Yassıbaş E, Ayyıldız F. Turkish Version of the New Instrument for Orthorexia Nervosa-Test of Orthorexia Nervosa (TON-17): A Validity and Reliability Study. Nutrients 2023; 15:3178. [PMID: 37513596 PMCID: PMC10384101 DOI: 10.3390/nu15143178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to adapt the Test of Orthorexia Nervosa- (TON-17) into Turkish and verify its validity and reliability. The study included 539 adults with a mean age of 30.2 ± 12.26 years. A reliability analysis was performed, along with a confirmatory factor analysis to test its construct validity. The time-invariance of the scale was examined by test-retest analysis, and its convergent validity was evaluated by a correlation analysis conducted to test the relationships between the scale and Eating Attitudes Test-26 and Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-9. Analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 28 and the AMOS-24 software. The Cronbach's α internal consistency coefficient of the total scale was found to be 0.82, suggesting a strong internal consistency. The Cronbach's α values of its factors were 0.68 for the "control of food quality", 0.64 for the "fixation on health and a healthy diet", and 0.73 for the "disorder symptoms". In addition, the test-retest reliability was found to be 0.87 for the total scale, suggesting excellent reliability. Most of the fit indices (CMIN/df, RMSEA, AGFI, NFI, and TLI) of the scale were acceptable, and the GFI indicated a good model fit. This study shows that the Turkish version of TON-17, which is a new tool with a three-factor structure to evaluate orthorexia, is a valid and reliable scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emine Yassıbaş
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, 06490 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Feride Ayyıldız
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, 06490 Ankara, Turkey
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11
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Falgares G, Costanzo G, Manna G, Marchetti D, Barrada JR, Roncero M, Verrocchio MC, Ingoglia S. Healthy orthorexia vs. orthorexia nervosa: Italian validation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS). Eat Weight Disord 2023; 28:42. [PMID: 37133773 PMCID: PMC10155145 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-023-01568-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) is a potentially pathological condition characterized by a fixation on healthy diet. An increasing number of studies have been conducted on this mental preoccupation, but the validity and reliability of some of the psychometric instruments employed in its assessment are still under debate. Among these measures, the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) seems to be promising, given that it allows to differentiate between OrNe and other non-problematic forms of interest with healthy eating, named as healthy orthorexia (HeOr). The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of an Italian version of the TOS, by testing its factorial structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity. METHOD Through an online survey, we recruited 782 participants from different regions of Italy, asking them to complete the following self-report instruments: TOS, EHQ, EDI-3, OCI-R, and BSI-18. From the initial sample, 144 participants agreed to complete a second TOS administration 2 weeks later. RESULTS Data confirmed the validity of the 2-correlated factors structure of the TOS. The questionnaire also showed good reliability, both in terms of internal consistency and temporal stability. With regard to the TOS validity, results showed that OrNe was significantly and positively associated with measures of psychopathology and psychological distress, while HeOr showed no correlations or negative associations with the above-mentioned measures. CONCLUSION Based on these results, the TOS can be considered a promising measure for the assessment of both pathological and non-problematic forms of orthorexic eating behavior also in Italian population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Falgares
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Costanzo
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanna Manna
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Daniela Marchetti
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Juan Ramón Barrada
- Departamento de Psicología y Sociología, Universidad de Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
| | - María Roncero
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Cristina Verrocchio
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Sonia Ingoglia
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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12
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Grammatikopoulou MG, Gkiouras K, Marakis G, Sifakaki M, Petropoulou A, Donini LM, Lindqvist HM, Bogdanos DP. Mind the Gap: Tools for the Diagnosis and Assessment of Orthorexia Nervosa Based on the Recent Consensus Definition. Reply to Meule, A. Comment on "Sifakaki et al. Orthorexia Nervosa Practices in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The DORA Study. Nutrients 2023, 15, 713". Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15081985. [PMID: 37111203 PMCID: PMC10141567 DOI: 10.3390/nu15081985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In a recent manuscript, our team published the results of an original pilot cross-sectional study assessing orthorexia nervosa (ON) tendencies among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Grammatikopoulou
- Unit of Immunonutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Gkiouras
- Unit of Immunonutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece
| | - Georgios Marakis
- Nutrition and Food Standards Unit, Hellenic Food Authority, 124 Kifisias Avenue & Iatridou 2, GR-11526 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Sifakaki
- Unit of Immunonutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece
| | - Anastasia Petropoulou
- Unit of Immunonutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece
| | - Lorenzo M Donini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Helen M Lindqvist
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Dimitrios P Bogdanos
- Unit of Immunonutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece
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13
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Anastasiades E, Argyrides M. Exploring the role of positive body image in healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa: A gender comparison. Appetite 2023; 185:106523. [PMID: 36871603 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Current scholarship on orthorexia nervosa remains undecided about the role of body image in this novel eating disorder. This study aimed to explore the role of positive body image in differentiating between healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa and assess how this might differ for men and women. A total of 814 participants (67.1% women; age M = 40.30, SD = 14.50) completed the Teruel Orthorexia scale, as well as measures of embodiment, intuitive eating, body appreciation and functionality appreciation. A cluster analysis revealed four distinct profiles characterized by high healthy orthorexia and low orthorexia nervosa; low healthy orthorexia and low orthorexia nervosa; low healthy orthorexia and high orthorexia nervosa; and high healthy orthorexia and high orthorexia nervosa. A MANOVA identified significant differences for positive body image between these four clusters, as well as that there were no significant differences between men and women for healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa, despite men scoring significantly higher than women on all measures of positive body image. Cluster × gender interaction effects were found for intuitive eating, functionality appreciation, body appreciation and experience of embodiment. These findings indicate that the role of positive body image in healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa may differ for men and women, making these relationships worthy of further exploration.
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14
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King E, Wengreen HJ. Associations between level of interest in nutrition, knowledge of nutrition, and prevalence of orthorexia traits among undergraduate students. Nutr Health 2023; 29:149-155. [PMID: 34894853 DOI: 10.1177/02601060211067644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is an unhealthy obsession wit "proper", "clean", or "healthful" eating that can potentially lead to serious physical, psychological, and social impairments. Aim: We aimed to examine associations between level of interest in nutrition, knowledge of nutrition, and prevalence of orthorexia traits in a population of college students enrolled in a general education nutrition course. Methods: Of the 579 students enrolled in the class during Spring semester of 2018, 221 (38%) completed an online survey. The survey was completed during weeks 8-9 of the 15-week semester. Results: The average nutrition knowledge score was 8.7 out of 12 (standard deviation (SD) 1.4, range 0-12). The average of the summed 29 orthorexia traits was 63.4 (SD 12.4; range = 41-102); lower scores indicated less agreeance with practicing ON behaviors. The degree of interest in the subject of nutrition was positively associated with prevalence of orthorexia traits (r = 0.43, p < 0.0001), but not nutrition knowledge (p > 0.05). Nutrition knowledge was inversely associated with prevalence of orthorexia traits (r = -0.19, p = 0.005). No associations were found between age, sex, year in school, or BMI and orthorexia traits. Conclusions: Interest in nutrition is associated with increased prevalence of orthorexia traits, however, higher levels of nutrition knowledge are associated with decreased prevalence of orthorexia traits. Additional studies should further examine these associations in prospective studies of nutrition/dietetics students as they progress in their programs and gain additional knowledge of nutrition.
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15
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Hafstad SM, Bauer J, Harris A, Pallesen S. The prevalence of orthorexia in exercising populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:15. [PMID: 36747235 PMCID: PMC9903632 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00739-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) describes a pathological obsession with proper and high-quality nutrition that is necessary to research further in order to elucidate its prevalence and correlates which may bear implications for prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to review studies that report the prevalence of ON in people who exercise, calculate an overall prevalence through a random-effects meta-analysis approach and investigate the association of ON prevalence using a random-effects meta-regression. In addition, a sub-group-analysis based on ON-instruments and a sensitivity analysis excluding students samples, were conducted. METHOD Systematic searches were conducted in the following online databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsychInfo, CINAHL, Google Scholar and OpenNet. The following search terms were used: Orthore* AND (prevalenc* OR incidenc* OR frequen* OR cut-off OR epidem*). A total of 613 unique hits were reviewed by two blinded authors, and 24 studies were coded and assessed for risk of bias (Holy et.al). The meta-regression included three independent variables (sex, type of sport, and sample size). RESULTS The overall prevalence of ON in the exercising population was 55.3% (95% CI 43.2-66.8). Cochran's Q was 11,436.38 (df = 23, p < 0.0000), and the I2 was 98.4%, indicating high heterogeneity across studies. The sensitivity showed an overall prevalence of 51.3% (95% CI 51.3-70.0). There was a significant difference in prevalence estimates based on the instruments used (Qbet = 33.6, df = 2, p < 0.01). DISCUSSION The overall prevalence of ON in exercising populations was very high. The between-study disparity was large and was partly explained by the ON-instrument administered. One fourth of the studies had a moderate risk of bias. The majority of the studies did not specify relevant demographic information about the sample, and information about the type of sport was frequently missing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Marie Hafstad
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Post Box 7807, 5020, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Jonas Bauer
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Post Box 7807, 5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette Harris
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Post Box 7807, 5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ståle Pallesen
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Post Box 7807, 5020, Bergen, Norway.,Optentia, the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
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16
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Mutluer G, Yilmaz D. Relationship Between Healthy Eating Fixation (Orthorexia) and Past Family Life, and Eating Attitudes in Young Adults. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH EDUCATION 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/19325037.2022.2163010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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17
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Greville-Harris M, Talbot CV, Moseley RL, Vuillier L. Conceptualisations of health in orthorexia nervosa: a mixed-methods study. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:3135-3143. [PMID: 35861935 PMCID: PMC9301897 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-022-01443-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Limited research has explored conceptualisations of health and healthy eating in orthorexia nervosa (ON). This mixed-methods study aimed to investigate how 'health' and 'healthy eating' are conceptualised by individuals at risk for ON. This study examined the potential relationships between health anxiety, beliefs about health controllability and orthorexic symptomatology in our broader sample. METHODS A total of 362 participants took a survey on health anxiety (measured with the HAQ), beliefs about the controllability of one's own health (IMHLC) and ON symptomatology (E-DOS and EHQ). Participants 'at risk' for ON (n = 141), also completed an online qualitative survey about conceptualisations of health and healthy eating. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis (part A). The PROCESS macro for SPSS was used for the quantitative analysis (part B). RESULTS Conceptualisations of health and healthy eating were complex. Four themes were generated from our qualitative data: 'health is more than thin ideals', 'healthy food equals healthy mind', 'a body that works for you' and 'taking control of your body'. Our quantitative analysis revealed that health anxiety and beliefs in health controllability independently predicted ON symptomatology. CONCLUSION A richer understanding of what health means in the context of ON is important, given the centrality of this concept to the proposed classification of this disordered eating style. Our findings highlight that both health anxiety and health controllability are important targets for future investigation, given their potential relevance to the aetiology and treatment of ON. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, based on a descriptive study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddy Greville-Harris
- Department of Psychology Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK.
| | - Catherine V Talbot
- Department of Psychology Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK
| | - Rachel L Moseley
- Department of Psychology Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK
| | - Laura Vuillier
- Department of Psychology Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK
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18
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Aiello P, Toti E, Villaño D, Raguzzini A, Peluso I. Overlap of orthorexia, eating attitude and psychological distress in some Italian and Spanish university students. World J Psychiatry 2022; 12:1298-1312. [PMID: 36389086 PMCID: PMC9641377 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i10.1298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is the persistent concern of maintaining the self-imposed diet to improve one's health. Many factors have been associated to ON in univ-ersity students.
AIM To assess the prevalence of ON in Italian and Spanish university students in relation to eating attitude and psychological distress, and the possible overlaps between ON (evaluated with different scored questionnaires from the originally proposed ORTO-15), distress and risk of eating disorders.
METHODS This study was carried out on 160 students recruited at La Sapienza University of Rome and at the Catholic University of Murcia. Questionnaires were administered to evaluate ON (ORTO-15 and sub-scores), body concerns (Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, MBSRQ, and Body Uneasiness test, BUT), psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, K10), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), eating attitude (Eating Attitudes Test, EAT-26) and malnutrition (Starvation Symptom Inventory, SSI). Sex differences, within the same country, and differences between Italian and Spanish students, within the same sex, were evaluated.
RESULTS The ORTO-15 positive subjects, assessed with the originally proposed cut-off, were above 70% in both Italian and Spanish students, with a higher prevalence in the Spanish sample (Italian females 76.3%, Italian males 70.7%; Spanish females 97.0%, Spanish males 96.3%). According to ORTO-7, about 30% of Italian and 48% of Spanish students were positive to ON with no significant sex differences. When excluding students underweight (UW), overweight (OW) or obese (OB), as well as those potentially at risk of eating disorders or presenting mild, moderate and severe distress, in the resultant normal weight (NW)-K10neg-EAT-26neg subgroup, we did not find many correlations observed in the whole sample, including those between ORTO scores and BUT, SSI, Total MBSRQ and some of its components. Moreover, ORTO-7 resulted in the only ON score unrelated with Body Mass Index, MBSRQ components and IPAQ-assessed intense activity, in the NW-K10neg-EAT-26neg subgroup. After this sort of “exclusion diagnosis”, the prevalence of ON of these students on the overall sample resulted in 16.9%, 12.2%, 15.2% and 25.9% for Italian females, Italian males, Spanish females and Spanish males, respectively.
CONCLUSION In some university students ON could be a symptom of other conditions related to body image concerns and distress, as well as to high physical activity and appearance, fitness, health or illness orientation (from MBSRQ). However, ORTO-7 became independent from these confounding variables, after the exclusion of UW, OW, OB and students positive to EAT-26 and K10, suggesting the possibility of identifying orthorexic subjects with this specific questionnaire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Aiello
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Toti
- Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Rome 00178, Italy
| | - Débora Villaño
- Food Science and Technology Department, UCAM, Murcia 30107, Spain
| | - Anna Raguzzini
- Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Rome 00178, Italy
| | - Ilaria Peluso
- Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Rome 00178, Italy
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Erkin Ö, Kocaçal E. Health perceptions and orthorexia nervosa tendencies among academics. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2022; 58:2782-2790. [PMID: 35612353 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.13124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine the perception of academicians' health status, identify academicians' orthorexia nervosa (ON) tendencies, and identify the factors associated with academicians' ON tendencies. DESIGN AND METHODS Personal information form (14 questions), Perception of Health status Scale, and ON (ORTO-11) Scale were used in data collection. FINDINGS The mean age of the participants was 42.23 ± 8.18. Of the academicians, 77.6% were female and 38.8% were in health-related departments. The health perception mean score was 1.82 ± 0.64. The average score of the ORTO-11 Scale was 22.86 ± 4.00, and 84.5% were found to be at risk of ON. There was a correlation between perception of health status and ORTO-11 (r = -0.286; p < 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Most of the academicians had a high tendency to ON. However, it is necessary to increase their awareness by providing training. Further studies should be carried out for certain diagnosis of ON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özüm Erkin
- Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, İzmir Demokrasi University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Elem Kocaçal
- Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, İzmir Demokrasi University, İzmir, Turkey
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Raynal P, Soccodato M, Fages M, Séjourné N. A comparative study of orthorexia between premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:2523-2531. [PMID: 35357686 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-022-01392-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Studies suggested that menopause is a period of vulnerability for disordered eating behaviors, but whether menopause could be linked to orthorexia nervosa (ON) remains unexplored. METHODS A sample composed of 709 women aged between 30 and 71 years (mean age = 43.08 years, SD = 9.24) answered self-administered questionnaires assessing ON (Düsseldorfer Orthorexia Skala, DOS), body image, self-esteem, and psychopathological symptoms. The sample included a Premenopause group of 441 women reporting regular menses, a Perimenopause group of 94 women reporting the recent onset of amenorrhea or menstrual irregularities, and a Postmenopause group of 174 women reporting amenorrhea of natural onset for more than 12 months. RESULTS Group comparison using analysis of covariance with age as covariate showed that ON scores were statistically higher in the two groups of participants dealing with menopause (Peri- and Postmenopause) when compared with women not yet concerned by menopause (Premenopause). A Kendall's tau-b correlation performed between the menopausal status (Pre, Peri, or Postmenopause) and DOS categories (No ON; At risk of ON; Presence of ON) showed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between the menopausal group and DOS categories (tau-b = 0.136, p < 0.001). In addition, Fisher's exact tests indicated that the percentages of participants in the "At risk of ON" and "Presence of ON" categories were statistically higher in the Postmenopause group in comparison with the Premenopause group (p < 0.001). Depressive symptoms were statistically higher in the Peri- and Post-groups, while anxiety symptoms were stronger in the Peri-group when compared with the Pre-group. CONCLUSIONS This study shows an increase of ON in women concerned with menopause, suggesting the existence of a relationship between menopause and ON. Further studies are necessary to identify factors involved in this association. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Descriptive (cross-sectional) study, level V.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Raynal
- Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé, Université de Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, 5 allées Antonio Machado, 31058, Toulouse, France.
| | - Marine Soccodato
- Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé, Université de Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, 5 allées Antonio Machado, 31058, Toulouse, France
| | - Morgane Fages
- Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé, Université de Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, 5 allées Antonio Machado, 31058, Toulouse, France
| | - Natalène Séjourné
- Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé, Université de Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, 5 allées Antonio Machado, 31058, Toulouse, France
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21
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Miley M, Egan H, Wallis D, Mantzios M. Orthorexia nervosa, mindful eating, and perfectionism: an exploratory investigation. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:2869-2878. [PMID: 35829900 PMCID: PMC9556414 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-022-01440-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Research has drawn associations between Mindful Eating (ME) and perfectionism in the aetiology and treatment of eating disorders (ED), but understanding into the relationship between these factors and Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is limited. The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between perfectionism, ME, and ON. METHOD Participants (n = 670) completed the Düsseldorf Orthorexia scale, the Mindful Eating Behavior scale, and the Big-Three Perfectionism scale Short-form, to reveal the relationship between ON, ME, and perfectionism. The relationship was assessed using correlational and regression analyses. RESULTS A positive association was observed between perfectionism and ON. Moreover, perfectionism demonstrated a significant negative correlation with three out of four ME facets, with "eating without distraction" displaying the highest correlation. The "eating with awareness" facet of ME demonstrated a significant relationship with ON, in a negative direction. An unexpected relationship was observed between the focused eating facet of ME and ON, with a positive association being found. A further regression analysis revealed both perfectionism and ME to predict orthorexic tendencies. CONCLUSION These findings identify a relationship between ON, ME, and perfectionism. It offers suggestion for the complexity of ME, and how it should be recognised by its different components, estimating a differential predictability and estimation of ON. Further research is required to clarify the direction of causality in the relationships observed, to inform the clinical diagnoses and intervention of ON. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Miley
- Department of Psychology, Birmingham City University, The Curzon Building, 4 Cardigan St., Birmingham, B4 7BD, UK.
| | - Helen Egan
- Department of Psychology, Birmingham City University, The Curzon Building, 4 Cardigan St., Birmingham, B4 7BD, UK
| | - Deborah Wallis
- Department of Psychology, Birmingham City University, The Curzon Building, 4 Cardigan St., Birmingham, B4 7BD, UK
| | - Michail Mantzios
- Department of Psychology, Birmingham City University, The Curzon Building, 4 Cardigan St., Birmingham, B4 7BD, UK
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22
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Albery IP, Shove E, Bartlett G, Frings D, Spada MM. Individual differences in selective attentional bias for healthy and unhealthy food-related stimuli and social identity as a vegan/vegetarian dissociate "healthy" and "unhealthy" orthorexia nervosa. Appetite 2022; 178:106261. [PMID: 35931214 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous work identified the operation of an attentional bias (AB) towards healthy food related stimuli among those with increasing tendencies towards orthorexia nervosa (ON) using a modified Stroop task. The current work aimed to replicate and extend our understanding of this effect by incorporating alternative measures of AB (i.e., the dot probe task) and ON (i.e., the Teruel Orthorexia Scale [ToS]) in a sample of self-defined vegans/vegetarians. The theoretical assertion of the ToS is the conceptual broadening of orthorexia with differentiable dimensions - one characterised as a "healthy" preoccupation with healthy food/eating patterns (HeOr) and the other by a more underlying pathology (OrNe). This study also aimed to examine the pattern of responding across these two dimensions according to factors known to predict ON. Eighty-six participants (mean age = 33.0 years; 20 males, 66 females) completed measures of obsessive compulsivity, perfectionism, state/trait anxiety and ToS as well as a dot probe designed to measure AB for healthy and unhealthy-related food stimuli, threat ratings of each of words utilised and perceived identity centrality as a vegan/vegetarianism. Results showed a dissociation of predicted determinants for "healthy" ON (HeOr) and pathological ON (OrNe). HeOr was predicted by increasing identity centrality whereas OrNe was predicted by increased OCD and perfectionism, and increased interference for healthy-related food words (in particular slowed disengagement) and not unhealthy related food words. Threat-related ratings of unhealthy food words was shown to be common across both dimensions. This pattern highlights cognitive and individual differences-based correlates of pathological and non-pathological ON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian P Albery
- Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK.
| | - Emma Shove
- Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Georgina Bartlett
- Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Daniel Frings
- Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Marcantonio M Spada
- Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
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Novara C, Pardini S, Visioli F, Meda N. Orthorexia nervosa and dieting in a non-clinical sample: a prospective study. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:2081-2093. [PMID: 34993925 PMCID: PMC8739027 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01353-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is characterised by excessive attention to a dietary regimen perceived as healthy. A critical factor in the distinction between ON and other eating disorders (EDs) is the dichotomy of quality-versus-quantity of food intake. We investigated whether specific types of diet or dieting frequency are associated with orthorexic features, explored the overlap between ON and EDs symptoms, and examined which constructs are predictive of ON after 6 months. METHODS A total of 1075 students (75.1% female, mean age 20.9) completed a set of questionnaires assessing Orthorexia, Eating Disorders, Obsessions and Compulsions, Anxiety and Depression; 358 individuals (79.9 female, mean age 20.9) agreed to participate in the study and completed the same questionnaires after 6 months. Different regression models were defined to investigate our hypothesis. RESULTS Findings suggest that ON is associated with the number and type of diets followed over a lifetime. Moreover, participants with EDs, body dissatisfaction, or a dysfunctional idea of thinness are more likely to report a greater degree of ON features. After 6 months, the best predictors of ON characteristics are the same ON characteristics assessed at the first administration, with a significant role in the ideal of thinness. CONCLUSIONS ON is more frequent in individuals with a previous diagnosis of EDs and in individuals who followed a restrictive diet or a vegan/vegetarian one; the number of lifetime diets, beliefs, and behaviors related to the ideals of thinness or body dissatisfaction is common features of ON. Moreover, considering that having ON features in the past is the best ON predictor in the present, we can presume that ON is a construct stable over time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV: Evidence obtained from multiple time series analysis such as case studies. (NB: Dramatic results in uncontrolled trials might also be regarded as this type of evidence).
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Novara
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Susanna Pardini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Visioli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova, Italy.,IMDEA-Food, CEI UAM + CSIC, Carr. de Canto Blanco 8, E, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicola Meda
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, Padova, Italy
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24
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Gramaglia C, Gattoni E, Ferrante D, Abbate-Daga G, Baldissera E, Calugi S, Cascino G, Castellini G, Collantoni E, Favaro A, Marzola E, Monteleone AM, Monteleone P, Oriani MG, Renna C, Ricca V, Salvo P, Santonastaso P, Segura-Garcia C, Volpe U, Zeppegno P. What do Italian healthcare professionals think about orthorexia nervosa? Results from a multicenter survey. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:2037-2049. [PMID: 35000187 PMCID: PMC8742705 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01336-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is an obsession for healthy and proper nutrition. Diagnostic criteria for ON are lacking and the psychopathology of ON is still a matter of debate in the clinical and scientific community. Our aim was to better understand the Italian clinical and scientific community's opinion about ON. METHODS Anonymous online survey for Italian healthcare professionals, implemented with the REDCap platform and spread through a multicenter collaboration. Information was gathered about socio-demographic, educational and occupational features, as well as about experience in the diagnosis and treatment of EDs. The main part of the survey focused on ON and its features, classification and sociocultural correlates. RESULTS The survey was completed by 343 participants. Most responders (68.2%) considered ON as a variant of Eating Disorders (EDs), and 58.6% a possible prodromal phase or evolution of Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Most participants (68.5%) thought the next DSM should include a specific diagnostic category for ON, preferably in the EDs macro-category (82.1%). Moreover, 77.3% of responders thought that ON deserves more attention on behalf of researchers and clinicians, and that its treatment should be similar to that for EDs (60.9%). Participants thinking that ON should have its own diagnostic category in the next DSM edition had greater odds of being younger (p = 0.004) and of considering ON a prodromic phase of another ED, such as AN (p = 0.039). DISCUSSION Our survey suggests that the scientific community still seems split between those who consider ON as a separate disorder and those who do not. More research is still needed to better understand the construct of ON and its relationship with EDs; disadvantages and advantages of giving ON its own diagnosis should be balanced. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V (descriptive cohort study).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Gramaglia
- Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, Novara, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Eleonora Gattoni
- Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | | | | | - Erika Baldissera
- Eating Disorders Centre Portogruaro, AULSS 4 Veneto Orientale, Portogruaro, Italy
| | - Simona Calugi
- Department of Eating and Weight Disorders, Villa Garda Hospital, Garda, Verona, Italy
| | - Giammarco Cascino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, "Scuola Medica Salernitana" University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giovanni Castellini
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Angela Favaro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Enrica Marzola
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Palmiero Monteleone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, "Scuola Medica Salernitana" University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Caterina Renna
- Center for the Treatment and Research On Eating Disorders, Mental Health Department, ASL Lecce, Lecce, Italy
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Pierandrea Salvo
- Eating Disorders Centre Portogruaro, AULSS 4 Veneto Orientale, Portogruaro, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Segura-Garcia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Umberto Volpe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences/DIMSC, School of Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancora, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zeppegno
- Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, Novara, Italy.
- Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
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25
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Atchison A, Zickgraf HF. Orthorexia nervosa and eating disorder behaviors: A systematic review of the literature. Appetite 2022; 177:106134. [PMID: 35750289 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Orthorexia nervosa (ON) involves obsessive thoughts about healthy eating and distress related to this obsession. There is still dispute over whether ON should be considered on the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, the eating disorder (ED) spectrum, or as its own disorder. Based on current research, orthorexic behaviors seem to be closely related to eating disorder behaviors. However, given the range of instruments used to measure ED and ON, and the lack of consistency in the specific ED domains explored, a review of the current literature is warranted. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to review the literature relating ON and ED symptoms in an effort to understand the nature of their relationship, and to identify ED symptom domains most closely related to ON. METHODS A search was conducted on PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science using the term "orthorexia" and at least one of the following: "anorexia nervosa," "bulimia nervosa," "eating disorder," "arfid," "restrictive," "body image," "weight concern," "shape concern." After exclusion criteria were applied, 42 articles were included in the review. RESULTS The results indicated that ON is consistently related to both trait and disordered restrictive eating symptoms of anorexia nervosa, and weight control motivations for food choice. However, ON was less consistently related to binge-spectrum eating disorder symptoms, emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, or body dissatisfaction/shape and weight concerns. CONCLUSION The finding that ON symptoms are related to restraint and weight loss efforts, but not to body dissatisfaction or dysregulated eating suggests that ON may represent a distinct ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Atchison
- University of South Alabama, Department of Psychology, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA.
| | - Hana F Zickgraf
- University of South Alabama, Department of Psychology, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA
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26
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Lakritz C, Tournayre L, Ouellet M, Iceta S, Duriez P, Masetti V, Lafraire J. Sinful Foods: Measuring Implicit Associations Between Food Categories and Moral Attributes in Anorexic, Orthorexic, and Healthy Subjects. Front Nutr 2022; 9:884003. [PMID: 35769379 PMCID: PMC9234570 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.884003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, neurocognitive studies have shown that food categorization is sensitive to both the properties of the food stimuli (e.g., calorie content) and the individual characteristics of subjects (e.g., BMI, eating disorders) asked to categorize these stimuli. Furthermore, groups of patients with eating disorders (ED) were described as relying more on moral criteria to form food categories than were control subjects. The present studies built on these seminal articles and aimed to determine whether certain food properties might trigger moral categories preferentially in subjects suffering from ED and in the general population. Using a Go/No-Go Association Task, Study 1 focused on the extent to which food categories are laden with moral attributes in ED patients compared to control subjects. Study 2 was a follow-up with a different design (an Implicit Association Test), another food variable (calorie content), and two non-clinical subgroups (orthorexic and healthy control subjects). Results revealed for the first time implicit associations between food variables cueing for energy density and moral attributes in the general population, the population suffering from anorexia nervosa, and subjects suffering from disordered eating such as orthorexia nervosa. These findings suggest that moralization of food is a pervasive phenomenon that can be measured with methods reputed to be less vulnerable to self-presentation or social desirability biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Lakritz
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Paul Bocuse, Lyon, France
- Laboratoire Parcours Santé Systémique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Lola Tournayre
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Paul Bocuse, Lyon, France
- GR2TCA-Loricorps, Groupe de Recherche Transdisciplinaire des Troubles du Comportement Alimentaire, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal (CR-IUSMM—CIUSSS Est de Montréal), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marilou Ouellet
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Paul Bocuse, Lyon, France
- GR2TCA-Loricorps, Groupe de Recherche Transdisciplinaire des Troubles du Comportement Alimentaire, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvain Iceta
- Centre Référent pour les TCA, Centre Intégré de l’Obésité, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Philibert Duriez
- GHU Paris Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Clinic of Mental Illnesses and Brain Disorders, Paris, France
- INSERM U1266, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), University of Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - Jérémie Lafraire
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Paul Bocuse, Lyon, France
- *Correspondence: Jérémie Lafraire,
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27
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Valente M, Cesuroglu T, Labrie N, Syurina EV. " When Are We Going to Hold Orthorexia to the Same Standard as Anorexia and Bulimia?" Exploring the Medicalization Process of Orthorexia Nervosa on Twitter. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022; 37:872-879. [PMID: 33475011 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1875558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This study contributes to understanding medicalization on social media, by using Conrad's concept of medicalization as a theoretical framework to explore the conversation about Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) on Twitter. The aim of this mixed-methods study was twofold: the quantitative component aimed to provide descriptive information on the type of tweets and users, as well as on the network structure of the ON-related conversation on Twitter, while the qualitative component aimed to explore how the medicalization of ON unfolds on Twitter by performing a thematic analysis of original tweets about ON. Quantitative descriptive findings show that the most popular hashtags associated with orthorexia include #rdchat, #psychology and #doctors, which hints to a link between discourses around ON and the medical profession. Among the most active, prominent and visible users are news accounts, a registered dietitian, a researcher, a professor and an editor. Qualitative thematic analysis shed light on the discursive process of medicalization. Some users bring about medicalization by approaching ON as a medical entity; in contrast, other users resist medicalization by describing ON as a social phenomenon. A discursive struggle emerges, where certain individuals feel confused around what constitutes ON. This leads to stigmatization of non-traditional diets like veganism, which in turn triggers complaints regarding over-medicalization. As the first Twitter investigation on ON, this study serves the purpose of providing insights into how an emerging disorder develops in society in a time of social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Valente
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
| | - Tomris Cesuroglu
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
| | - Nanon Labrie
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
| | - Elena V Syurina
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
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28
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Gkiouras K, Grammatikopoulou MG, Tsaliki T, Ntwali L, Nigdelis MP, Gerontidis A, Taousani E, Tzimos C, Rogoza R, Bogdanos DP, Donini LM, Goulis DG. Orthorexia nervosa: replication and validation of the ORTO questionnaires translated into Greek in a survey of 848 Greek individuals. Hormones (Athens) 2022; 21:251-260. [PMID: 35092606 PMCID: PMC8799960 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-022-00351-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study aimed to validate the ORTO-15 questionnaire for orthorexia nervosa (ON), translated by our group into the Greek language, and replicate the findings of the recently proposed 6-item ORTO-R. METHODS The tool was translated into the Greek language (ORTO-15-GR) using the forward-backward-forward method. A total of 848 adults participated in the validation study by filling in the questionnaires and providing general characteristics (age, gender, educational level, body weight, and height). The internal consistency of the tool was assessed by the omega (ω) coefficient, and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) examined its factorial structure. Using the original six items of the ORTO-15 tool, a separate CFA model examined the factorial structure of the proposed ORTO-R tool. Furthermore, regression models tested the association of ORTO-R with study variables. RESULTS For ORTO-15-GR, the omega coefficient was 0.70 and for the ORTO-R 0.65. For the latter, the CFA revealed acceptable goodness-of-fit (standardized factor loadings from 0.36 to 0.64); however, all ORTO-15 models were characterized by a poor fit. In addition, there was a negative association between ORTO-R score and female gender, body mass index (BMI), and having a nutrition-related health problem. CONCLUSION The replication of ORTO-R indicates that it is a reliable tool in the field of ON. Therefore, the use of a 6-item questionnaire for ON assessment appears promising in research and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Gkiouras
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
- Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria G Grammatikopoulou
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Tsampika Tsaliki
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Laurette Ntwali
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Meletios P Nigdelis
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandros Gerontidis
- Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Taousani
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christos Tzimos
- Northern Greece Statistics Directorate, Hellenic Statistical Authority, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Radosław Rogoza
- Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dimitrios P Bogdanos
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Lorenzo M Donini
- Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Food Science and Human Nutrition Research Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Dimitrios G Goulis
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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29
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Use of online and paper-and-pencil questionnaires to assess the distribution of orthorexia nervosa, muscle dysmorphia and eating disorders among university students: can different approaches lead to different results? Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:989-999. [PMID: 34110598 PMCID: PMC8190766 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01231-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Administration of questionnaires to assess the diffusion of disordered eating behaviours via the web is becoming common today. The aim of this study is to assess whether two different approaches of administering a test to assess traits of eating disorders (EDs), orthorexia nervosa (ON) and muscle dysmorphia (MD) by email recruitment and online completion (web-based survey-WBS) and by in person recruitment and paper-and-pencil completion (paper-based survey-PBS), gives different results. METHODS During 2 consecutive academic years, a self-reported questionnaire consisting of questions about personal characteristics and three tests for the evaluation of ON (ORTO-15), MD (MDDI-ITA), and EDs (EAT-26) were administered to two groups of undergraduates, respectively, as a WBS and a PBS. RESULTS The WBS response rate was 6.7% (N = 137), and the PBS response rate was 86.5% (N = 372). The WBS group showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of students with eating disordered behaviours (21.2% vs 5.4%) and registered a higher mean score on the EAT-26 test (13.5 ± 11.1 vs 6.0 ± 8.0); no differences between the two groups emerged for ON and MD prevalence and test scores. Moreover, in the WBS group, the number of students with one or more tests with test scores above the cut-off values was significantly higher (46.0% vs 32.3%). CONCLUSION The choice of the approach to administer a questionnaire to assess the diffusion of EDs and related issues must take into account all the factors that can result in selection bias and that can affect the reliability of the results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, descriptive cross-sectional survey.
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30
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Strahler J, Wachten H, Neuhofer S, Zimmermann P. Psychological Correlates of Excessive Healthy and Orthorexic Eating: Emotion Regulation, Attachment, and Anxious-Depressive-Stress Symptomatology. Front Nutr 2022; 9:817047. [PMID: 35356731 PMCID: PMC8959669 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.817047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Orthorexia nervosa, the pathological obsession with eating healthy, shares risks and significant comorbidity with other mental disorders. Based on a behavioral conceptualization of the overlap, emotion regulation, attachment style, and anxious-depressive-stress symptomatology are prominent but insufficiently researched endophenotypes for orthorexia nervosa. This study aimed at identifying ways in which difficulties in emotion regulation and attachment-related anxiety and avoidance become apparent in orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia. Additionally, the moderating role of anxious, depressive, and stress symptoms was explored. A convenience sample of 399 adults (266 women) completed questionnaires to measure orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia, difficulties in emotion regulation, partnership-related bond, and anxious-depressive-stress symptomatology. The healthy orthorexia subscale was negatively associated with lack of emotional awareness but no other subscale of difficulties in emotion regulation or attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Orthorexia nervosa scores were positively linked to difficulties in emotion regulation as well as attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Multiple linear regression indicated non-acceptance of emotional responses and impulse control difficulties to be the strongest predictors for orthorexia nervosa. Both subscales also mediated the effects of attachment style on orthorexia nervosa with anxious-depressive-stress symptomatology moderating some of these effects. Individuals with higher orthorexia nervosa tendencies showed difficulties in emotion regulation, a common feature also of affective and eating disorders. Improvement in understanding the psychological features of orthorexia nervosa can enable a better differentiation from other disorders, advances in the development of treatment approaches and treatment planning, and outlines directions for future research on mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Strahler
- Department of Sport Psychology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Department of Health Psychology and Applied Diagnostics, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jana Strahler
| | - Hanna Wachten
- Department of Sport Psychology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Department of Psychotherapy and System Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Shanna Neuhofer
- Department of Psychotherapy and System Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Peter Zimmermann
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
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31
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Valente M, Renckens S, Bunders-Aelen J, Syurina EV. The #orthorexia community on Instagram. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:473-482. [PMID: 33835422 PMCID: PMC8933345 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01157-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This mixed-methods study delved into the relationship between orthorexia nervosa (ON) and Instagram. METHODS Two quantitative data sources were used: content analysis of pictures using #orthorexia (n = 3027), and an online questionnaire investigating the experience of ON and the use of Instagram of people sharing ON-related content on Instagram (n = 185). Following, interviews (n = 9) were conducted with people posting ON-related content on Instagram and self-identifying as having (had) ON. RESULTS People who share ON-related content on Instagram were found to be primarily young women (questionnaire = 95.2% females, mean age 26.2 years; interviews = 100% females, mean age 28.4 years), who were found to be heavy social media users and favor Instagram over other platforms. Questionnaire respondents agreed in defining ON as an obsession with a diet considered healthy, with bio-psycho-social negative consequences, though those who self-identified as having (had) ON were more likely to point out the negative impairments of ON. Interviewees deemed Instagram partially responsible for the development of ON. Instead, they agreed that Instagram encourages problem realization. Content analysis showed that ON is encoded in pictures of 'food', 'people', 'text' and 'other.' Interviewees revealed that they started posting to recover, share information, help others, and they felt inspired to post by other accounts. A sense of belonging to the #orthorexia community emerged, where people share values and ideals, and seek validation from others. CONCLUSION Conversations around #orthorexia on Instagram generate supportive communities aiding recovery. Individuals use Instagram for helping others and themselves recovering from ON. Understanding how people help each other, manage their health, cope with symptoms, and undertake recovery can inform the implementation of therapeutic interventions for ON. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Valente
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Sophie Renckens
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joske Bunders-Aelen
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elena V Syurina
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Validation of the Arabic version of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) among Lebanese adolescents. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:619-627. [PMID: 33939127 PMCID: PMC8091151 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01200-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed at examining the reliability and validity of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) among a sample of Lebanese adolescents (15 to 18 years old). METHODS This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted between May and June 2020 and had enrolled 555 Lebanese adolescents. To assess the internal structure of the TOS scale, we administered the confirmatory factor analysis based on polychoric correlation matrix using Weighted Least Squares with Means and Variance Adjusted estimation (WLSMV) method in Mplus v 7.2 as suggested in the original validation paper. To assess the degree to which the Lebanese adaptation converges with the original scale, we have conducted the Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA; estimated as CFA) between the data reported in the current paper and from the original validation paper. RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 16.66 ± 1.01 years, with 76.1% females. The bi-dimensional model fitted the data well (χ2(118) = 429.09; p < 0.001; CFI = 0.954; RMSEA = 0.069[0.062, 0.076]). The latent factors were highly correlated (ρ = 0.74; p < 0.001), and the strength of the standardized factor loadings was adequate on both factors (i.e., all > 0.60). The fit indices of the scalar model were at the boundary of the threshold and thus, with some pinch of caution, it might be interpreted as invariant (i.e., having equal item intercepts across groups). We have identified latent mean differences in orthorexia nervosa (0.30; p < 0.001), where Spanish individuals scored higher, but we did not find any differences in the healthy eating (0.03; p = 0.636). Higher DOS scores were significantly correlated with higher scores on the TOS subscale OrNe (r = 0.715; p < 0.001) as well as with higher scores on the TOS subscale HeOR (r = 0.754; p < 0.001). Higher ORTO-R scores were significantly associated with less TOS OrNe (r = - 0.437; p < 0.001) and TOS HeOr (r = - 0.305; p < 0.001) scores, respectively. CONCLUSION The Arabic version of the TOS can be considered a reliable valuable instrument to assess the ON tendencies and behaviors in Lebanese adolescents, emphasizing the fine contrast between ON's two dimensions: healthy vs. pathological. LEVEL V Opinions of authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.
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Is orthorexia nervosa a feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder? A multicentric, controlled study. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:2531-2544. [PMID: 33544361 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01114-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The term orthorexia nervosa (ON) was coined to describe altered thoughts and behaviours related to healthy eating. The prevalence of ON was found to scale up to almost 90% among high-risk populations (ballet dancers, athletes, and health workers). ON seem to share psychopathological aspects with both Eating Disorders (ED) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The aim of the study was to analyse the frequency and intensity of ON symptoms among subjects diagnosed with OCD, hypothesising that they would be higher than in two control groups (subjects with anxiety-depressive disorders and general population). METHODS We conducted a multi-centre, observational, controlled study. Subjects filled in a socio-demographic questionnaire including questions related to life-style and two psychometric instruments: ORTO-15, for ON symptoms, and OCI-R, for OCD symptoms. Post hoc analysis of the dataset was performed using the revised version of ORTO-15, the ORTO-R. RESULTS In the final sample of 328 subjects, the overall prevalence of ORTO-15-ON was 59.5%, mean score 37.9 ± 4.2. The mean score at the ORTO-R was 16.6 ± 4.6. No statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of ON or in the mean ORTO-15 score among OCD patients and the two control groups, and this was confirmed by the multiple regression analysis. At the ORTO-R re-scoring, OCD patients scored significantly lower than the two clinical subgroups (p = .0005) and a lower ORTO-R score was associated to positivity at the OCI-R, confirming the initial hypothesis of the study. CONCLUSIONS ON symptoms do seem to be more prevalent among subjects suffering from OCD. The psychometric properties of tools available to calculate ON symptoms, namely ORTO-15 vs. ORTO-R, play a relevant role in explaining such finding. ORTO-R seems to be a valid alternative able to overcome such difficulties, though further studies are needed to confirm this.
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Souza HMAV, do Carmo AS, Dos Santos LC. The Brazilian version of the DOS for the detection of orthorexia nervosa: transcultural adaptation and validation among dietitians and Nutrition college students. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:2713-2725. [PMID: 33615424 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01143-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Orthorexia nervosa has been receiving considerable attention and several tools have been developed to assess it, for instance, the "Düsseldorf Orthorexie Scale" (DOS). Such scale is a validated test to measure orthorexic eating behavior and it has shown good psychometric properties. Therefore, this study aimed to transculturally adapt and validate the Brazilian version of the DOS (DOS-BR). METHODS DOS-BR was obtained using the back-translation process after two reviews done by a focus group and after running a pilot-test (n = 64). A self-report questionnaire was administered to a sample of Brazilian dietitians and Nutrition college students (n = 486). To examine the factor structure of the DOS-BR, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. The ordinal alpha was examined. Test-retest reliability was evaluated in a sub-sample (n = 159). Convergent validity was assessed by conducting correlation analyses between the DOS-BR and other theoretically related tools (EAT-26 and OCI-R) within the sub-sample. RESULTS A three-factor structure was revealed for the DOS-BR properly fitted (KMO = 0.787). The test showed good internal consistency with an ordinal alpha of 0.795, and it also had excellent test-retest reliability of 0.776. DOS-BR median score was 17 (14-22) in Measurement 1 and 19 (17-22) in Measurement 2. The total score had a positive and moderate correlation with eating disorders symptoms (0.488) and a positive and weak correlation with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (0.224). CONCLUSION The DOS-BR was culturally and psychometrically adequate for the samples of Brazilian Nutrition-related subjects. The tool is indicated as a reliable alternative to evaluate orthorexia nervosa in Brazilian scenery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Descriptive (cross-sectional) study, Level V.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luana Caroline Dos Santos
- Department of Nutrition, School of Nursing, University Federal of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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To further understand orthorexia nervosa: DOS validity for the Portuguese population and its relationship with psychological indicators, sex, BMI and dietary pattern. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:2127-2134. [PMID: 33140378 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-01058-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE 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. METHODS 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. RESULTS 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. CONCLUSIONS 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 OF EVIDENCE Level V-validation study.
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Distinguishing orthorexic behaviors from eating disordered and obsessive-compulsive behaviors: a typological study. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:2011-2019. [PMID: 33111166 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-01037-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study represents a first attempt to explore the typology of young adults from a large non-clinical sample based on orthorexic (ON), eating disordered (ED) and obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCD). METHODS 921 individuals (Mage = 20.72, SD = 2.63), 84.6% women (n = 780) and 15.3% men (n = 141), completed a set of questionnaires assessing ON, ED, OCD behaviors and body image attitudes. RESULTS Cluster analysis based on ON, ED and OCD behaviors yielded four clearly distinct groups: a "Low" group that was below the sample mean for all behaviors, an "Orthorexic behaviors" group, an "Eating disordered behaviors" and an "Obsessive-compulsive behaviors" group with, respectively, mean scores on ON, ED and OCD behaviors that all were all above the sample means. Using ANOVA, these groups were compared regarding body image attitudes, self-reported BMI, age and educational level. Results show that all clusters differed from each other on virtually all variables. And compared with all other clusters, the "Orthorexic behaviors" cluster displayed greater scores in health and fitness-related aspects of body image. It also differed from the "Eating disordered behaviors" cluster, by its higher scores in appearance evaluation, body areas satisfaction and lower scores in self-classified weight. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the existence of a distinct group of individuals with orthorexic behaviors and its positive body image attitudes and offers significant support for the possibility of ON being a distinct condition from ED and OCD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, descriptive study.
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Making the leap from healthy to disordered eating: the role of intuitive and inflexible eating attitudes in orthorexic behaviours among women. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:1793-1800. [PMID: 32902789 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-00998-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) has been a research focus in recent years. Despite the lack of consensus on its definition and classification as a psychiatric disorder, research has shown that ON is linked to certain behaviours (orthorexic behaviours, e.g.: obsessive thinking and compulsive behavior, guilt and self-punishment, restriction), associated with disordered eating. However, very little is known about this relationship. The aim of this study was to explore the eating-related processes inherent to the relationship between orthorexic behaviours and disordered eating, and understand if it is through the adoption of a more inflexible and less intuitive eating approach, that an interest in healthy eating develops into a pathological one, while controlling the effect of age and BMI. Additionally, this relationship was explored for two different groups: Omnivores and Non-omnivores. METHODS Four hundred fifty-one women (281 Omnivores and 170 Non-omnivores) from the Portuguese population participated in this study, by answering a set of self-report measures. RESULTS Non-omnivores presented significant higher levels of orthorexic behaviours and inflexible eating. In both groups, orthorexic behaviours and disordered eating were linked positively to inflexible eating and negatively to intuitive eating. A path model analyses showed that the preferred eating approach mediated the relationship between orthorexic behaviours and disordered eating, explaining 51% of the variance of disordered eating. A multigroup analysis confirmed the model invariance between Omnivores and Non-omnivores. CONCLUSIONS Our findings contribute to the better understanding of the relationship between orthorexic behaviours and disordered eating and its eating-related processes. Future research regarding the clinical intervention and prevention of ON in women should focus on encouraging a more intuitive eating approach. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV, cross-sectional study.
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Roberto da Silva W, Cruz Marmol CH, Nogueira Neves A, Marôco J, Bonini Campos JAD. A Portuguese Adaptation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale and a Test of Its Utility with Brazilian Young Adults. Percept Mot Skills 2021; 128:2052-2074. [PMID: 34187241 DOI: 10.1177/00315125211029240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The aims for this study were to perform a Portuguese language cross-cultural adaptation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) and to evaluate the scale's psychometric properties, including verifying the frequency of behaviors characteristic of orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia, among a group of Brazilian gym users. First, we adapted the Spanish version of the TOS to the Brazilian Portuguese language following international protocols to guarantee idiomatic, semantic, conceptual, and cultural equivalence. Then participants completed both the new Portuguese version of the TOS and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Among our sample of 226 young Brazilian adults (63.7% men; M age = 28.8, SD = 5.1 years), we assessed the bi-factorial model of the TOS through factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity, reliability, and factorial invariance. We calculated the mean scores of the TOS factors and the frequency of behaviors of both orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia. The new Portuguese version was well understood by participants, and the TOS bi-factorial model presented adequate psychometric properties and showed invariance in independent subsamples and in men and women. The mean scores were different between sexes only for orthorexia nervosa, with women obtaining higher values. The frequency of orthorexia nervosa behaviors was 5.3% and of healthy orthorexia was 41.2%. Based on these findings, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the TOS can be a useful tool for investigating orthorexia-like behaviors in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanderson Roberto da Silva
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos Hernani Cruz Marmol
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | | | - João Marôco
- William James Center for Research (WJCR), ISPA - University Institute, Lisbon, Portugal
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Rogowska AM, Kwaśnicka A, Ochnik D. Validation and Polish Adaptation of the Authorized Bratman Orthorexia Self-Test (ABOST): Comparison of Dichotomous and Continuous Likert-Type Response Scales. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2021; 14:921-931. [PMID: 34234588 PMCID: PMC8254612 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s308356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Although research on orthorexia nervosa (ON) has developed in recent years, there exists a continuous need to develop valid tools to assess ON risk, according to strict diagnostic criteria. The present study aims to conduct Polish adaptation and validation of the Authorized Bratman Orthorexia Self-Test (ABOST), through a comparison of dichotomous and continuous Likert response scales. Participants and Methods This cross-sectional study involved 472 people with mean age of 27 years (ranging between 18 and 78 years, M = 26.88, SD = 10.40). The survey included demographic questions and measures of orthorexia (the ABOST and ORTO-15), eating disorders (EAT-26), body mass index (BMI), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCI-R), anxiety (GAD-7), and depression (PHQ-9). The following statistical tests were performed to explore the psychometric properties of the ABOST: descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, Pearson’s correlation, Cronbach’s α reliability, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results The ABOST using a five-point Likert scale for responses demonstrated good psychometric properties. The CFA goodness-of-fit indices confirmed the one-factor solution. Positive correlations were found between the ABOST and the ORTO-15, EAT-26, OCI-R, GAD-7, and PHQ-9. Women scored higher in the ABOST than men, while BMI was unrelated to the ABOST. Conclusion The ABOST using the Likert scale provides a reliable and valid instrument to assess ON risk, as indicated by the face, structural, and convergent validity results. However, more research in various countries is needed, in order to verify the results of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dominika Ochnik
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology, Katowice, Poland
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Pauzé A, Plouffe-Demers MP, Fiset D, Saint-Amour D, Cyr C, Blais C. The relationship between orthorexia nervosa symptomatology and body image attitudes and distortion. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13311. [PMID: 34172763 PMCID: PMC8233361 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92569-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), a condition characterized by a fixation on healthy eating, still does not conform to any consensus concerning diagnostic criteria, notably in regard to a possible body image component. This study investigated the relationship between ON symptomatology, measured with the Eating Habit Questionnaire, and body image attitudes and body image distortion in a non-clinical sample. Explicit body image attitudes and distortion were measured using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. Implicit body image attitudes and distortion were assessed using the reverse correlation technique. Correlational analyses showed that ON is associated with both explicit and implicit attitudes and distortion toward body image. More precisely, multivariate analyses combining various body image components showed that ON is mostly associated with explicit overweight preoccupation, explicit investment in physical health and leading a healthy lifestyle, and implicit muscularity distortion. These findings suggest that ON symptomatology is positively associated with body image attitudes and distortion in a non-clinical sample. However, further studies should be conducted to better understand how ON symptomatology relates to body image, especially among clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne Pauzé
- Département de Psychoéducation et de Psychologie, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Succursale Hull, C.P. 1250, Gatineau, QC, J8X 3X7, Canada
| | - Marie-Pier Plouffe-Demers
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, C.P. 8888, Montreal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Daniel Fiset
- Département de Psychoéducation et de Psychologie, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Succursale Hull, C.P. 1250, Gatineau, QC, J8X 3X7, Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, C.P. 8888, Montreal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Caroline Cyr
- Département de Psychoéducation et de Psychologie, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Succursale Hull, C.P. 1250, Gatineau, QC, J8X 3X7, Canada
| | - Caroline Blais
- Département de Psychoéducation et de Psychologie, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Succursale Hull, C.P. 1250, Gatineau, QC, J8X 3X7, Canada.
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Greetfeld M, Hessler-Kaufmann JB, Brandl B, Skurk T, Holzapfel C, Quadflieg N, Schlegl S, Hauner H, Voderholzer U. Orthorexic tendencies in the general population: association with demographic data, psychiatric symptoms, and utilization of mental health services. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:1511-1519. [PMID: 32729018 PMCID: PMC8128806 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-00961-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by a preoccupation to eat healthily and restrictive eating habits despite negative psychosocial and physical consequences. As a relatively new construct, its prevalence and correlates in the general population and the associated utilization of mental health services are unclear. METHODS Adults from the general population completed the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), the Short Eating Disorder Examination (SEED). RESULTS Five-hundred eleven (63.4% female) participants with a mean age of 43.39 (SD = 18.06) completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of ON according to the DOS was 2.3%. Considering only effects of at least intermediate size, independent samples t-tests suggested higher DOS scores for persons with bulimia nervosa (p < .001, Cohen's d = 1.14), somatoform syndrome (p = .012, d = .60), and major depressive syndrome (compared p < .001, d = 1.78) according to PHQ as well as those who reported to always experience fear of gaining weight (p < .001, d = 1.78). The DOS score correlated moderately strong and positively with the PHQ depression (r = .37, p < .001) and stress (r = .33, p < .001) scores as well as the SEED bulimia score (r = .32, p < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, only PHQ depression scores were associated with past psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatment (OR = 1.20, p = .002) and intake of psychotropic medication in the last year (OR = 1.22, p = .013). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of ON was low compared to international studies but is in line with other non-representative German studies. Orthorexic tendencies related to general mental distress and eating disorder symptoms but were no independent reason for seeking treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Greetfeld
- Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Am Roseneck 6, 83209, Prien Am Chiemsee, Germany.
| | - Johannes Baltasar Hessler-Kaufmann
- Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Am Roseneck 6, 83209, Prien Am Chiemsee, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Beate Brandl
- ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Tomas Skurk
- ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Christina Holzapfel
- Institute for Nutritional Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Norbert Quadflieg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Schlegl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Hauner
- Chair of Nutritional Medicine, Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
- Institute for Nutritional Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Voderholzer
- Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Am Roseneck 6, 83209, Prien Am Chiemsee, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Niedzielski A, Kaźmierczak-Wojtaś N. Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa and Its Diagnostic Tools-A Literature Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105488. [PMID: 34065506 PMCID: PMC8160773 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Niedzielski
- Independent General Psychology Unit, Medical University in Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
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Rogowska AM, Kwaśnicka A, Ochnik D. Development and Validation of the Test of Orthorexia Nervosa (TON-17). J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10081637. [PMID: 33921511 PMCID: PMC8069172 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to develop and validate a new self-report questionnaire to measure orthorexia nervosa (ON). Based on a current review of the scientific literature and interviews with people at risk of orthorexia, 40 items were selected to test orthorexia nervosa (TON-40). A total sample of 767 individuals (M = 26.49, SD = 9.66, 56.98% women) participated in the study. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and composite construct analysis (CCA) were performed to find an appropriate model of sufficient reliability and validity and stable construction. Convergent validation was performed regarding the correlation of the TON-17 with another measure of ON (ORTO-15), eating disorders (the EAT-26 and DEAS), healthy behavior (the HBI), quality of life (the Brief WHOQOL), physical health (the GRSH), anxiety (the GAD-7), depression (the PHQ-9), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (the OCI-R). Gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and the medical reasons for a restrictive diet were also examined. As a result of the structural analyses, the number of items was reduced from 40 to 17. The best fit indices of the TON-17 were found for the hierarchical bi-factor model, with three lower-order factors (Control of food quality, Fixation of health and healthy diet, and Disorder symptoms) and one general higher-order factor (Orthorexia). According to the 95th percentile method of estimation, the prevalence of ON was 5.5% for the TON-17 total score. The TON-17 scale and subscales showed good psychometric properties, stability, reliability, and construct validity. The TON-17 indicated a positive relationship with the ORTO-15, EAT-26, DEAS, HBI, OCI-R, GAD-7, and PHQ-9. TON-17 can be considered as a useful tool for assessing the risk of ON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra M. Rogowska
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Opole, 45-052 Opole, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Aleksandra Kwaśnicka
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Opole, 45-052 Opole, Poland;
| | - Dominika Ochnik
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology, 40-555 Katowice, Poland;
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Strahler J. Trait mindfulness differentiates the interest in healthy diet from orthorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:993-998. [PMID: 32445115 PMCID: PMC8004484 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-00927-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obsessive healthy eating and its extreme form orthorexia nervosa are epidemiologically significant problems. Mindfulness, the focused, non-judgmental attention to and awareness of present events, may be an important psychological contributor to (orthorexic) eating habits. METHODS In this cross-sectional survey-based study, 314 women and 75 men (mean agetotal sample = 27.17 years, SD = 10.64) provided data on mindfulness (Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, presence and acceptance subscale) and orthorexic eating (Teruel Orthorexia Scale, healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa subscale). RESULTS In this study, we found a positive relation between mindfulness and healthy orthorexia, the non-pathological interest in eating healthy. By contrast, orthorexia nervosa, the pathological obsession with healthy eating, was negatively associated with mindfulness. Gender differences appeared neglectable. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results confirm previous research showing that mindfulness encourages eating healthy and may protect against eating-related pathologies. Result also support the notion that orthorexia has two dimensions, healthy and nervosa, which are differently related to psychological factors, herein mindfulness. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, cohort study.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Strahler
- Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10H, 35394, Giessen, Germany. .,Health Psychology and Applied Diagnostics, Bergische University Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany.
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Orthorexia nervosa in yoga practitioners: relationship with personality, attitudes about appearance, and yoga engagement. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:789-795. [PMID: 32356144 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-00911-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Disordered eating symptoms and a high prevalence of orthorexia nervosa can be found in yoga practitioners. Given that yoga is increasingly used as a complementary treatment for eating disorders (ED), understanding the relationship between yoga practice and the development of disordered eating is crucial to guide treatment recommendations. The goal of this work is, therefore, to study the relationships between orthorexia nervosa (ON) and potential risk factors for ON, in an international sample of experienced yoga practitioners. METHOD An online questionnaire that included several psychometric instruments was responded by 469 yoga practitioners. Instruments used were the Teruel orthorexia scale, Yoga immersion scale, Passion scale, Frost multidimensional perfectionism scale, Self-discipline scale of NEO-PI-R, Drive for thinness scale of EDI, and Beliefs about appearance scale. Descriptive statistics, correlational analysis and multiple regression were used to evaluate relationships between ON and the other variables. RESULTS The main predictors of orthorexia nervosa were the drive for thinness and a healthy orthorexia, suggesting that, like in anorexia and bulimia, orthorexic individuals are also concerned with food quantity and physical appearance, rather than just food quality. CONCLUSIONS The potential effects of yoga on eating behaviours and attitudes of long-term practitioners, particularly the high prevalence of orthorexia nervosa and the concern for physical appearance, should be taken into consideration when using yoga as prevention or treatment for eating disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.
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Godefroy V, Trinchera L, Dorard G. Optimizing the empirical assessment of orthorexia nervosa through EHQ and clarifying its relationship with BMI. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:649-659. [PMID: 32346828 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-00909-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is described as an obsession for healthy eating with potentially debilitating consequences but little of its psychopathology is empirically supported. Using suitable validation methodologies, we wanted to optimize the empirical assessment of ON symptoms and investigate their unclear relationship with BMI. Our objective was, therefore, twofold: (1) Validation of a robust measurement model of ON dimensions using the Eating Habits Questionnaire (EHQ); (2) Validation of a structural model describing a mechanism of relationships between ON dimensions and BMI. METHODS A self-report questionnaire assessing BMI and ON through a French translation of the 21-item EHQ was administered to a large sample of French adults (N = 2065). We used Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis for objective no. 1 and Structural Equation Modeling for objective no. 2. RESULTS We validated a well-fitted (TLI = 0.98; RMSEA = 0.04) and conceptually consistent measurement model with 16 items for three ON dimensions: Rigid Eating Behavior (REB), Positive Feeling of Control (PFC) and Problems of Attention Control and Social Relationships (PACSR). We also validated a structural model (TLI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.05) showing that: 1. REB strongly impacts both PFC and PACSR; 2. REB has a significant negative impact on BMI and BMI has a significant positive effect on PACSR but effect sizes are very small and globally ON dimensions are only marginally related to BMI. CONCLUSION Our study achieved an improved assessment method of ON, a clarification of its links with BMI and implications for the descriptive psychopathology of ON. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V, Descriptive cross-sectional study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Godefroy
- Inserm, U 1127, CNRS, UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, FRONTlab, 75013, Paris, France.
| | - Laura Trinchera
- Department of Information Systems, Supply Chain and Decisions, NEOMA Business School, 76100, Rouen, France
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Dajon M, Delpech L, Sudres JL. Validation de l’Échelle Française d’Orthorexie. EVOLUTION PSYCHIATRIQUE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evopsy.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Strahler J, Wachten H, Mueller-Alcazar A. Obsessive healthy eating and orthorexic eating tendencies in sport and exercise contexts: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Behav Addict 2021; 10:456-470. [PMID: 33650987 PMCID: PMC8997206 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2021.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) and exercise addiction (ExAdd) are two phenomena believed to overlap. We conducted a meta-analysis exploring the link between ON and (addictive) exercise behaviors. METHODS A systematic review of major databases and gray literature was carried out for studies reporting on ON and (addictive) exercise behaviors. Random effects meta-analyses were undertaken calculating correlations between ON and (addictive) exercise behaviors. A sub-group analysis investigated gender differences. RESULTS Twenty-five studies with 10,134 participants (mean age = 25.21; 56.4% female) were included. Analyses showed a small overall correlation between ON and exercise (21 studies, r = 0.12, 95% CI |0.06-0.18|) and a medium overall correlation between ON and ExAdd (7 studies, r = 0.29, 95% CI |0.13-0.45|). Gender differences were negligible. CONCLUSIONS Orthorexic eating correlated slightly and moderately with exercise and ExAdd, respectively, expressing some unique and shared variance of these behaviors. While this does not suggest ON and addictive exercising to be independent, it does not indicate substantial comorbidity. Future research should focus on clinical relevance, underlying mechanisms, vulnerability, and risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Strahler
- Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hanna Wachten
- Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Anett Mueller-Alcazar
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Yakın E, Raynal P, Chabrol H. Not all personal definitions of healthy eating are linked to orthorexic behaviors among French college women. A cluster analysis study. Appetite 2021; 162:105164. [PMID: 33587984 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study represents a first attempt to explore the typology of French female young adults based on personal definitions of healthy eating and to examine inter-group differences regarding their tendencies towards Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), eating disordered (ED) and obsessive-compulsive (OC) behaviors. METHOD 362 female adults (Mage = 23.43, SD = 3.82) completed a 40-item questionnaire assessing personal definitions of healthy eating, the Eating Habits Questionnaire, the Eating-Disorders Inventory-3 and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised. RESULTS Exploratory factor analysis yielded 6 factors for healthy eating definitions: "Health benefits", "Politico-ecological", "Restriction", "Pleasure", "Socio-cultural" and "Dietary avoidance". Cluster analysis based on these factors identified 3 distinct groups: "Self & Environment aware " (SEA), "Restrictive-Avoidant" (RA) and "Sociable-Pleasure seeking" (SP). The SEA cluster emphasized the "Health benefits", "Politico-ecological" and "Dietary avoidance" factors while defining healthy eating. The RA cluster highlighted the "Restriction" and "Dietary avoidance" factors while the SP cluster mainly emphasized the "Pleasure" and "Socio-cultural" factors. Compared to all other clusters, the SEA cluster displayed greater scores in ON behaviors. The RA cluster displayed greater scores in ED behaviors compared to SP cluster. No significant difference was found between clusters regarding OC behaviors. CONCLUSION Findings from this study suggest that ON behaviors can vary depending on personal definitions of healthy eating. They further indicate that the definitions of healthy eating related to ON behaviors are largely different from those related to ED and OC behaviors. This study offers considerable support for the possibility of ON being a distinct condition from ED and OC behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ecem Yakın
- Centre d'Études et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé, Université de Toulouse, UT2J, France.
| | - Patrick Raynal
- Centre d'Études et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé, Université de Toulouse, UT2J, France
| | - Henri Chabrol
- Centre d'Études et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé, Université de Toulouse, UT2J, France
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Vegetarian diet and orthorexia nervosa: a review of the literature. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:1-11. [PMID: 31784944 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-019-00816-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of individuals following a vegetarian diet has increased in the last 50 years. Although the causal connection between orthorexic behaviors and vegetarianism remains widely assumed, evidence in support of this assumption has been largely inconsistent. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to conduct a review of the relationship between vegetarian diet and orthorexic eating behavior and to give future directions in this area. METHODS A search of the literature within PubMed/Medline was conducted. The search terms were "orthorexia", "orthorexic", "orthorexia and vegetarian", "orthorexia and vegan" and "orthorexia and vegetarianism". Out of 117 journal articles, 14 met the predefined inclusion criteria and were analyzed. RESULTS The results demonstrated that following a vegetarian diet was found to be related to orthorexic eating behaviors (in 11 out of 14 studies). CONCLUSION Further longitudinal research is needed to investigate whether following a vegetarian diet serves as a risk factor in the development of orthorexia nervosa. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, narrative review.
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