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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Eating Disorder | Research article

Orthorexia nervosa, eating patterns and personality traits: a cross-cultural comparison of Italian, Polish and Spanish university students

Authors: Carla Gramaglia, Eleonora Gambaro, Claudia Delicato, Marco Marchetti, Marco Sarchiapone, Daniela Ferrante, María Roncero, Conxa Perpiñá, Anna Brytek-Matera, Ewa Wojtyna, Patrizia Zeppegno

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

The amount of research about orthorexic attitudes and behaviours has increased in the last five years, but is still mainly based on descriptive and anecdotal data, yielding a variety of prevalence data and inconsistent results. The interplay between socio-cultural context and orthorexia has been poorly investigated and is still far from being understood.

Method

Multicentre, cross-sectional study involving Italian (N = 216), Polish (N = 206) and Spanish (N = 242) university students, assessed through a protocol including informed consent, socio-demographic and anamnestic data sheet and self-administered questionnaires (ORTO-15, Eating Attitudes Test- 26 [EAT-26], Temperament and Character Inventory [TCI]).

Results

Higher prevalence of orthorexia (as described by the ORTO-15 cutoff) was found in Poland. Female gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), current Eating Disorder, dieting, EAT-26 score ≥ 20 and low/medium Persistence were associated with orthorexia in the whole sample. The cross-cultural comparison showed several differences among the three subgroups of students.

Conclusions

The associations found between orthorexic attitudes, self-reported current eating disorder, BMI and adherence to a dieting need to be supported by further research. The differences among students from the three countries seem to suggest a possible rolve for cultural elements in the construct of orthorexia.
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Metadata
Title
Orthorexia nervosa, eating patterns and personality traits: a cross-cultural comparison of Italian, Polish and Spanish university students
Authors
Carla Gramaglia
Eleonora Gambaro
Claudia Delicato
Marco Marchetti
Marco Sarchiapone
Daniela Ferrante
María Roncero
Conxa Perpiñá
Anna Brytek-Matera
Ewa Wojtyna
Patrizia Zeppegno
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2208-2

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