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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

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

Authors: María-Laura Parra-Fernández, Teresa Rodríguez-Cano, María-Dolores Onieva-Zafra, María José Perez-Haro, Víctor Casero-Alonso, Elia Fernández-Martinez, Blanca Notario-Pacheco

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Introduction

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by an obsession with healthy eating, which may lead to severe physical, psychological and social disorders. It is particularly important to research this problem in populations that do not receive clinical care in order to improve early detection and treatment.

Objective

The aim of this study was to research the prevalence of ON in a population of Spanish university students and to analyze the possible associations between ON and psychological traits and behaviors that are common to ED.

Method

A cross-sectional study with 454 students from the University of Castilla La Mancha, Spain. In total, 295 women and 159 men participated, aged between 18 and 41 years. The ORTO-11-ES questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2) were used for this study. The chi squared test was used to compare the homogeneity among the different groups.

Results

The scores on the ORTO-11-ES suggested that 17% of students were at risk of ON. The scores on the EDI-2 for the group at risk of ON were significant, compared to the remaining individuals, regarding their drive for thinness (17.1% vs 2.1%), bulimia (2.6% vs 0%), body dissatisfaction (26.3% vs. 12.4%), perfectionism (14.5% vs 4.8%), interoceptive awareness (13.2% vs 1.3%), asceticism (15.8% vs 3.7%) and impulsiveness (9.2% vs 1.9%).

Discussion and conclusion

These findings suggest that many of the psychological and behavioral aspects of ED are shared by people who are at risk of ON. Future research should use longitudinal data, examining the temporal relationship among these variables or other underlying variables that may contribute to the concurrence of ED and ON.

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Title: Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in university students and its relationship with psychopathological aspects of eating behaviour disorders
Authors: María-Laura Parra-Fernández
Teresa Rodríguez-Cano
María-Dolores Onieva-Zafra
María José Perez-Haro
Víctor Casero-Alonso
Elia Fernández-Martinez
Blanca Notario-Pacheco
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1943-0

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

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

Abstract

Introduction

Objective

Method

Results

Discussion and conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Objective

Method

Results

Discussion and conclusion

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