Contemporary studies on ON increasingly focus on the influence of social media on its occurrence. Similar associations between ON and studying a medical profession have been observed in other studies 8,54. Among adolescents, it is crucial to understand how different factors may influence the development of this disorder. The discrepancies that occur may be due to methodological differences, such as different definitions and diagnostic criteria for ON used in different studies. Interestingly, the results of the study showed that customers of organic shops were more likely to obtain positive results in the ORTO-15 test compared to people from the non-OSC group. ON is increasingly diagnosed in young adults, which is why other researchers also pay attention to the study of the relationship between eating style and ON. Many of the studies cited are based on diagnostic tools that are not standardized, which may affect the discrepancies in the obtained results. The fact that studies from different environments lead to similar conclusions suggests that there is a universal correlation between ON and the abovementioned factors, regardless of the region in which the studies are conducted 59,63. Interestingly, the results of studies conducted in countries with large cultural differences, such as Russia and Spain, show significant differences in the way different social groups react to the influence of social media. These can be anything from needing to cut your food into tiny pieces, having exact times for meals, or not eating in front of others. For example, the emphasis on optimal nutrition for performance can create high pressure for eating the "perfect" foods. Eating disorders are defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as having very specific criteria. Orthorexia is a form of disordered eating and is not yet classified as an eating disorder. Clean eating is a focus on non-processed, whole foods with minimal ingredients. Have you ever felt consumed by the thought of eating the "right" foods? Measuring "orthorexia." development of the eating Habits questionnaire. Beliefs about what constitutes healthy eating commonly originate in one or another dietary theory such as raw foodism or macrobiotics, but are then taken to extremes, leading to disordered eating patterns and psychological and/or physical impairment. Orthorexia nervosa (/ˌɔːrθəˈrɛksiə nərˈvoʊsə/; ON; also known as orthorexia) is a proposed eating disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation with eating healthy food. Studies suggest that intensive exercise can reinforce unhealthy attitudes towards one’s body shape, which in turn contributes to the intensification of orthorexia nervosa symptoms 23,24,34,56. Many researchers point out that eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and other eating disorders significantly increase the risk of developing orthorexia. The occurrence of eating disorders in the adolescent population may be correlated with the development of orthorexia nervosa, as highlighted by other researchers . The key difference that has been proposed between ON and EDs is that the over-valued idea is centred on health rather than weight, but measures of ON symptoms are not designed to distinguish between these over-valued ideas. Patients may also be fixated on the "health-giving properties" of a particular type of food to the exclusion of others. In reviewing the overlaps between ON and other existing psychiatric disorders, the symptomatology of ON appears to share similarities with various disorders, including OCD and other EDs. For instance, a shortage of essential nutrients caused by restrictive eating can result in malnutrition, a weakened immune system, infertility, and more. However, it appears that for these populations, choosing to be vegan or vegetarian is a symptom of orthorexia rather than a cause. For example, one review found that the prevalence of orthorexia ranged from 6.9% in the general Italian population to 88.7% among Brazilian dieting students. Although you may begin a diet simply intending to improve your health, this focus can become more extreme. Feel empowered to talk with a qualified healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian, if you’re struggling. If you are preoccupied with food or your weight, feel guilt surrounding your food choices, or routinely engage in restrictive diets, consider reaching out for support. A person with the disorder may focus so much on optimal nutrition that it impacts other aspects of their life.
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