A Study on Orthorexia Nervosa: When Healthy Eating Becomes an Obsession
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37591/rrjohp.v4i3.892Abstract
Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a new eating disorder described as an obsession for healthy eating. Recently individuals exhibiting different ‘‘highly sensitive eating behavior disorders” are increasing with the increased consciousness about various diseases globally and the role of diet in their prevention. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to identify individuals with obsessive eating behavior. Sample included 30 nutrition professionals and 30 non-nutrition professionals (n=60; all graduates and above). ORTO 15 test was administered to diagnose Orthorexia. Data were collected for sociodemographic variables, anthropometric profile, weight management attempts, smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, knowledge about balanced diet, choice of food and physical activity. Dietary data were collected using Food Frequency Questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall and were analysed for mean daily intake of energy, protein and fats. An Emotional Eating Scale (EES) test was administered to study the eating behavior of the subjects in response to different emotions. About 56.66% of the total subjects were orthorexic and 60% of the nutritionists showed orthorexic behavior. Majority of the orthorexics (47.05%) were <25 years of age, and were primarily females (70.59%). 11.76% orthorexics were underweight which might be a result of their obsessive behavior. 70.59% of orthorexics followed a regimented diet (p=0.056*) as compared to a lesser percentage (46.15%) of nonorthorexics; showed controlled temptation even towards their favorite foods if those were presumed to be unhealthy. Higher percentage of orthorexics preferred healthier options like fruits and sandwiches to fried foods and namkeens between the meals. 79.41% orthorexics avoided fried foods (p=0.069*); 64.71% of them consumed at least one serving of fruit everyday compared to 53.85% of the nonorthorexics reflecting healthy eating choices. Saturated fat was avoided by most of the orthorexics. While eating out, 91.18% orthorexics did not order food out of peer pressure (p=0.001**) if it was perceived unhealthy. Mean daily intake of energy for the orthorexic males and females was lesser as compared to the nonorthorexics.
Keywords: obesity, orthorexic, health, depression, emotional eating scale (EES)
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Declaration and Copyright Transfer Form
(to be completed by authors)
I/ We, the undersigned author(s) of the submitted manuscript, hereby declare, that the above manuscript which is submitted for publication in the STM Journals(s), is not published already in part or whole (except in the form of abstract) in any journal or magazine for private or public circulation, and, is not under consideration of publication elsewhere.
- I/We will not withdraw the manuscript after 1 week of submission as I have read the Author Guidelines and will adhere to the guidelines.
- I/We Author(s ) have niether given nor will give this manuscript elsewhere for publishing after submitting in STM Journal(s).
- I/ We have read the original version of the manuscript and am/ are responsible for the thought contents embodied in it. The work dealt in the manuscript is my/ our own, and my/ our individual contribution to this work is significant enough to qualify for authorship.
- I/We also agree to the authorship of the article in the following order:
Author’s name
1. ________________
2. ________________
3. ________________
4. ________________
| We Author(s) tick this box and would request you to consider it as our signature as we agree to the terms of this Copyright Notice, which will apply to this submission if and when it is published by this journal. |
