Weight Loss Diet is Linked to Orthorexia Nervosa in University Students

OBJECTIVES: Orthorexia nervosa (ON), a term describing the obsession with healthy eating, has been coined since 1997 but no study has been reported in people following weight loss diets. This study aimed to assess the association between ON and weight loss diet in a university student population. METHODS: Students 18 years or older in all majors and at all education levels in a southeastern university were invited to take an online survey. Survey questions include Bratman Orthorexia Test (BOT), Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and participant characteristics. RESULTS: 411 students (ages 18–65, BMI 15.1–55.5, female 75.2%, white 75.6%, graduate students 16.1%) have completed the survey. Among them, 117 have followed weight loss diet(s) for more than 3 months. Comparing to non-diet followers, diet followers were older (26.2 vs. 23.9), had higher BMI (26.5 vs. 24.9), reported higher BOT scores (5.9 vs. 3.9) and had a higher percentage being a health fanatic or orthorexic (BOT > 5: 76.1% vs. 38.8%). Diet followers also reported higher EAT scores (16.9 vs. 9.0) and had a higher percentage of students at high eating disorder risk (EAT ≥ 20: 32.5% vs. 12.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Following weight loss diets is associated with high ON tendencies among university students. This association needs to be tested in other populations. Prevention and treatment strategies for ON and eating disorders should take following weight loss diets into consideration. FUNDING SOURCES: None.