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Higher levels of concern about dieting and moderate-intensity physical activity predict orthorexia nervosa among young adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

S. Pardini ,
J. Szubert ,
C. Novara  and
A. Brytek-Matera
S. Pardini
Affiliation:
University of Padova, Department Of General Psychology, Padova, Italy
J. Szubert
Affiliation:
University of Wroclaw, Institute Of Psychology, Wroclaw, Poland
C. Novara
Affiliation:
University of Padova, Department Of General Psychology, Padova, Italy
A. Brytek-Matera*
Affiliation:
University of Wroclaw, Institute Of Psychology, Wroclaw, Poland
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

In some individuals, interest in healthy attitudes and behaviours towards food may show obsessive signs. Preoccupation with ‘healthful’ eating may contribute to orthorexia nervosa (ON) – a strong preoccupation with “healthy eating” manifested by the avoidance of all foods considered by the individual to be “unhealthy”.

Objectives

The objective of the present study was to determine whether disordered eating behaviour, physical activity and self-esteem are predictors of ON in young adults.

Methods

Five hundred fifty-four Polish and Italian university students participated in the present study. Participants were asked to answer the Eating Habits Questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

Results

Our findings found that higher levels of concern about dieting and moderate-intensity physical activity were related to ON. Particularly, higher levels of concern about dieting, bulimic behaviour and thoughts about food and moderate-intensity physical activity predicted problems associated with healthy eating. Higher levels of concern about dieting, self-esteem as well as self-control of eating and perceived pressure from others to gain weight were associated with knowledge of healthy eating. Whereas, higher levels of concern about dieting with country factor (Poland) predicted feeling positively about healthy eating.

Conclusions

In ON treatment, reduction in symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders and adequate levels of physical activity should be taken into consideration.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

orthorexia nervosaphysical activityEating Disordersyoung adults
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S149
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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