Orthorexia nervosa - a separate clinical entity, a part of eating disorder spectrum or another manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in the population of adolescents and young adults, as well as to determine whether orthorexia is a separate clinical entity, a part of eating disorder or another manifestation of obsessivecompulsive disorder.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 864 subjects (599 females and 265 males). The mean age of female participants was 20.21±3.27 years, and of male participants 18.93±3.67 years. As a part of the study, we used a proprietary questionnaire to collect patient data, as well as following diagnostic questionnaires: ORTO-15 by Donini et al. (Polish version validated by Janas-Kozik et al.), EAT-26 by Garner and Garfinkel, and MOCI (Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory) by Hodgson and Rachman. The results were analysed statistically.

RESULTS

27% of subjects were found to be at risk of orthorexia nervosa (score of 35 was considered a cut-off point). These subjects achieved significantly higher scores in the EAT-26. There were no statistically significant differences in the MOCI scores. The highest risk of orthorexia was observed in subjects aged 13-16 years old (junior secondary school) and the lowest in 16-19-year-olds (senior secondary school). Individuals with suspected orthorexia tended to have significantly higher BMI. Specific analysis of environmental features will be exposed in the next issue.

CONCLUSIONS

Orthorexia nervosa is not a separate clinical entity. It does not belong to the OCD spectrum, but meets the criteria of eating disorder spectrum.