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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: 2] [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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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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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: 1.0] [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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Agovi H, Pierguidi L, Dinnella C, Viggiano MP, Monteleone E, Spinelli S. Attentional bias for vegetables is negatively associated with acceptability and is related to sensory properties. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Collins M, Quinton S. The inter-relationship between diet, selflessness, and disordered eating in Australian women. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01774. [PMID: 32767655 PMCID: PMC7507084 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Personality traits and diet can be used to predict if a person is predisposed to disordered eating. Results of this study demonstrate a strong significant relationship between the personality trait of selflessness, diet group, and disordered eating. Vegans were most likely to display selflessness tendencies associated with disordered eating; however when selflessness was controlled for, vegans displayed substantially less disordered eating pathology than non-vegetarians. OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between diet group (non-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, true-vegetarian, and vegan) and disordered eating while investigating to what extent personality trait of selflessness mediates the relationship between diet group and disordered eating. METHOD Cross-sectional data from 634 Australian nonclinical women who completed a series of online questionnaires including measures of diet group, disordered eating, and selflessness were used to examine associations between diet, personality (selflessness), and disordered eating. RESULTS Selflessness was found to be a significant positive predictor of disordered eating. Results confirm that selflessness played a suppressing role in the relationship between the vegan diet group and disordered eating, when compared to non-vegetarians. Surprisingly, vegans displayed significantly less disordered eating than non-vegetarians and semi-vegetarians. DISCUSSION Results of the current study imply that the role of selflessness on disordered eating, when broken down across diet group, may be more complex than first thought. If replicated, these results suggest that targeted treatment of selflessness in different diet groups may improve treatment outcomes for disordered eating. Further research should explore why diet groups differ in terms of selflessness and how this impacts disordered eating.
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Strahler J, Hermann A, Schmidt NM, Stark R, Hennig J, Munk AJ. Food cue-elicited brain potentials change throughout menstrual cycle: Modulation by eating styles, negative affect, and premenstrual complaints. Horm Behav 2020; 124:104811. [PMID: 32592725 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While there is evidence for increased food intake and craving during the luteal phase, underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. The present study investigated electrophysiological responses to food pictures as a function of menstrual cycle phase. In addition, the moderating effects of progesterone, eating behaviors (restraint, emotional, orthorexic), negative affect, and premenstrual complaints were explored. METHODS Using a within-subject design, 35 free-cycling women watched and rated pictures of food (high and low caloric) and control items during the follicular, the ovulatory, and the luteal phase (counterbalanced), while EEG was recorded to examine the late positive potentials (LPP). Salivary gonadal hormones and affect were examined at each occasion. Eating behaviors and premenstrual complaints were assessed once. RESULTS For parietal regions, average LPPs were comparable between cycle phases but slightly larger LPP amplitudes were elicited by high caloric food pictures as compared to the neutral category. Descriptively, both food categories elicited larger parietal LPPs than neutral pictures during the luteal phase. Analyses of LPPs for central-parietal regions showed no effect of picture category or cycle phase, except higher amplitudes in the right area during the luteal phase. During the luteal phase, progesterone and functional interference from premenstrual symptoms (but not age, BMI, picture ratings, affect, estradiol, or eating behaviors) significantly predicted larger parietal LPPs towards high caloric (but not low caloric) pictures. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a heightened food cue reactivity during the luteal phase, which may relate to higher ovarian hormone secretion and more functional impact of premenstrual symptoms. This research contributes to a better understanding of menstrual health and the identification of preventive strategies for premenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Strahler
- Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
| | - A Hermann
- Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - N M Schmidt
- Differential and Biological Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - R Stark
- Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - J Hennig
- Differential and Biological Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - A J Munk
- Differential and Biological Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
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Strahler J, Stark R. Perspective: Classifying Orthorexia Nervosa as a New Mental Illness-Much Discussion, Little Evidence. Adv Nutr 2020; 11:784-789. [PMID: 32059052 PMCID: PMC7360443 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmaa012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant prevalence rates of pathological healthful eating and its extreme form, orthorexia nervosa (ON), the pathological obsession with healthy eating, have led to increased efforts to understand this phenomenon's clinical relevance. This narrative review qualitatively summarizes existing evidence on the (psycho-)pathology and consequences of ON and offers an interpretation within the frame of existing theories and models of psychiatric disease. Adding to the controversy in the field of ON, this review offers important critiques and identifies gaps in our current understanding of ON as a (distinct) mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Strahler
- Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
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