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Bellikci Koyu E, Karaağaç Y, Öner BN. The association between food neophobia, bi-dimensional aspects of orthorexia, and anxiety among vegetarians and omnivores. Appetite 2024; 197:107303. [PMID: 38503030 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Vegetarianism is a growing trend, and food neophobia and orthorexia nervosa could act as barriers to achieving a healthy vegetarian diet. The aim of this study is to compare the levels of food neophobia, anxiety, and both healthy and pathological aspects of orthorexia among vegetarians and omnivores. Additionally, the study aims to identify the relationships between food neophobia, anxiety, and orthorexia. In this cross-sectional online survey, a total of 324 vegetarian and 455 omnivores adults participated. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related characteristics, the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS), the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorders-7 Scale. Vegetarians exhibited lower FNS scores (p < 0.001) and had higher healthy orthorexic scores (p < 0.001) than omnivores. There were no differences between groups for anxiety scores (p > 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that higher food neophobia (OR: 0.953, 95% CI:0.937-0.968) and TOS-OrNe scores (OR: 0.946, 95% CI: 0.901-0.993) were associated with lower odds of following a vegetarian diet. Conversely, higher TOS-HeOr scores (OR: 1.135, 95% CI:1.096-1.176) were linked to an increased likelihood of adopting a vegetarian diet. Furthermore, both FNS and GAD-7 scores showed negative correlations with TOS-HeOR (r = -0.124, p < 0.001 and r = -0.129 p < 0.001, respectively), and positive correlations with TOS-OrNe (r = 0.106, p < 0.001 and r = 0.146, p < 0.001). In conclusion, vegetarians exhibit lower levels of food neophobia and a greater interest in healthy eating than omnivores. Additionally, the distinct correlation between two dimensions of orthorexia and food neophobia and anxiety provides support for the two-dimensional nature of orthorexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Bellikci Koyu
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, 35620, Türkiye.
| | - Yasemin Karaağaç
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, 35620, Türkiye
| | - Beyza Nur Öner
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, 35620, Türkiye
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Bellikci-Koyu E, Karaağaç Y, Yürük AA. Factors associated with food label use: focus on healthy aspects of orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord 2024; 29:32. [PMID: 38703233 PMCID: PMC11069476 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-024-01661-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the potential relationships between the use of different section of food label, and healthy and pathological aspects of orthorexia among adults. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey (n = 1326). Inclusion criteria were being 19-64 years and graduated from at least primary school. Pregnant and lactating women were excluded. Data were collected using questionnaire including socio-demographic variables, lifestyle factors, body weight and height, frequency of reading different sections of food label ("always", "when buying a food for the first time", "when comparing similar packaged foods", "rarely", "never"), food label literacy, and Teruel Orthorexia Scale. Participants were categorized as nutrition facts panel-users, ingredients list-users or claim-users if they read at least one item from the relevant parts. RESULTS The proportions of nutrition facts, ingredients list, and claims sections users were 72.3%, 76.3%, and 79.9%, respectively. Both healthy and pathological aspects of orthorexia were associated with reading food labels. The healthy orthorexia had the strongest association with using the ingredients list (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.41-2.20), whereas the orthorexia nervosa showed the highest association with using nutrition facts panel (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.20-1.81). While women, physically active participants and those with higher food label literacy were more likely to use all sections of food labels; older age, having children, and chronic disease increased the likelihood of using claims and ingredients list (p < 0.05). Besides, following a diet was associated with higher use of nutrition facts and ingredients list (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrates that food label users have higher orthorexia tendencies compared to non-users. Of the food label sections, healthy orthorexia showed the strongest association with use of the list of ingredients, while pathological orthorexia showed the strongest association with use of the nutrition facts panel. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, cross-sectional study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Bellikci-Koyu
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Izmir, Türkiye
| | - Yasemin Karaağaç
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Izmir, Türkiye
| | - Armağan Aytuğ Yürük
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye.
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Rossi AA, Mannarini S, Donini LM, Castelnuovo G, Simpson S, Pietrabissa G. Dieting, obsessive-compulsive thoughts, and orthorexia nervosa: Assessing the mediating role of worries about food through a structural equation model approach. Appetite 2024; 193:107164. [PMID: 38103790 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is a condition characterized by an obsessive focus on healthy eating, inflexible dietary rules, and persistent preoccupations with food. Despite it has been recently the subject of increasingly relevant studies, little is known about the mechanisms that might foster ON symptoms. OBJECTIVE This study used a structural equation modeling approach to test the mediating effect of thoughts, worries, and preoccupations about food on the relationship that eating disorders (EDs) attitudes (e.g., dieting) and obsessive-compulsive thoughts and symptoms have with ON in a large community sample. It was hypothesized that the effect of dieting and obsessive-compulsive thoughts and symptoms on ON would be partially mediated by the presence of thoughts, worries, and preoccupations about food. METHODS Data from a cross-sectional sample of 1328 participants (females = 976) recruited from the general population were asked to fill in an online survey comprising the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), the Obsessive-compulsive subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R-OC) and the Orthorexia Scale-15 (ORTO-15). RESULTS Structural equation models indicated that both obsessive-compulsive thoughts and symptoms and dieting had a direct effect on ON and that food preoccupation partially mediated these relationships. CONCLUSION These findings provide novel insight into the nature of ON that could aid its conceptualization and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Alberto Rossi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education, and Applied Psychology, Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Center for Intervention and Research Studies on the Family, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Stefania Mannarini
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education, and Applied Psychology, Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Center for Intervention and Research Studies on the Family, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Castelnuovo
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Clinical Psychology Research Laboratory, Milano, Italy
| | - Susan Simpson
- NHS Forth Valley Eating Disorder Service, Stirling, Scotland, UK; Department of Justice & Society, University of South Australia, Australia
| | - Giada Pietrabissa
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Clinical Psychology Research Laboratory, Milano, Italy
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Magano NN, Tuorila H, De Kock HL. Food choice drivers at varying income levels in an emerging economy. Appetite 2023; 189:107001. [PMID: 37591447 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to explore and compare food choice drivers of low (LI), middle (MI) and high (HI) income urban people in an emerging economy (South Africa). Here, 13 focus group (FG) discussions [six LI, n = 36, 67% women; four MI, n = 22, 100% women and three HI, n = 17, 76% women; total n = 75) were transcribed, coded inductively and deductively and 17 food choice categories emerged. Eight of these, i.e., aspects related to: plant vs animal protein, food waste, food preparation, availability of resources, food exploration, social aspects and food spoilage, are not typically (e.g., sensory appeal, mood, health, convenience etc.) measured with established food choice questionnaires. Economic factors and Availability of food and resources were mentioned the most by LI participants compared to MI and HI. Whereas, Health; Familiarity and Food exploration were mostly mentioned by MI and HI participants. This study yielded a mixture of individual and environment based motives which add to our understanding of the "why" aspects underlying food choice in an urban and emerging economy. The fact that these aspects are compared by income group provides interesting information on the similarities and differences of how the food choice process unfolds across varying income groups. The insights from this study are useful for the development of an updated, quantitative food choice questionnaire for application in this and other emerging economies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nomzamo N Magano
- Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Hely Tuorila
- Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Henrietta L De Kock
- Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Horovitz O, Argyrides M. Orthorexia and Orthorexia Nervosa: A Comprehensive Examination of Prevalence, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Nutrients 2023; 15:3851. [PMID: 37686883 PMCID: PMC10490497 DOI: 10.3390/nu15173851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Orthorexia nervosa is an emerging and controversial eating disorder characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with healthy eating and an extreme fixation on food purity. Despite growing public interest in orthorexia, its classification as a distinct eating disorder remains a subject of ongoing debate in the mental health community. This paper comprehensively reviews the current literature on orthorexia nervosa, exploring the prevalence rates, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options. The paper offers an overview of orthorexia and its historical context and explores the challenges and considerations in diagnosing orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa. Specifically, the distinction between "orthorexia" and "orthorexia nervosa" is a debated issue in eating disorder research due to a lack of clear diagnostic criteria, making it challenging to accurately differentiate between an obsession with healthy eating and a more severe form with potential distress and impairment. Given the absence of formal diagnostic criteria, developing valid and reliable assessment tools is crucial to accurately identify and treat individuals experiencing these disorders. The paper's final section covers the existing treatment approaches for orthorexia nervosa. Overall, the paper highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of orthorexia nervosa. This review contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding orthorexia and provides valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders in the mental health and eating disorders fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Horovitz
- The Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, Tel-Hai Academic College, 9977 North Districts, Qiryat Shemona 1220800, Israel
- Psychology Department, Tel-Hai Academic College, 9977 North Districts, Qiryat Shemona 1220800, Israel
| | - Marios Argyrides
- Psychology Department, Neapolis University Pafos, 2 Danais Avenue, Paphos 8042, Cyprus;
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Anastasiades E, Argyrides M. Exploring the role of positive body image in healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa: A gender comparison. Appetite 2023; 185:106523. [PMID: 36871603 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Current scholarship on orthorexia nervosa remains undecided about the role of body image in this novel eating disorder. This study aimed to explore the role of positive body image in differentiating between healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa and assess how this might differ for men and women. A total of 814 participants (67.1% women; age M = 40.30, SD = 14.50) completed the Teruel Orthorexia scale, as well as measures of embodiment, intuitive eating, body appreciation and functionality appreciation. A cluster analysis revealed four distinct profiles characterized by high healthy orthorexia and low orthorexia nervosa; low healthy orthorexia and low orthorexia nervosa; low healthy orthorexia and high orthorexia nervosa; and high healthy orthorexia and high orthorexia nervosa. A MANOVA identified significant differences for positive body image between these four clusters, as well as that there were no significant differences between men and women for healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa, despite men scoring significantly higher than women on all measures of positive body image. Cluster × gender interaction effects were found for intuitive eating, functionality appreciation, body appreciation and experience of embodiment. These findings indicate that the role of positive body image in healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa may differ for men and women, making these relationships worthy of further exploration.
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