Orthorexic Tendency in Light of Eating Disorder Attitudes, Social Media Addiction and Regular Sporting Among Young Hungarian Women.

Abstract

This study examined a set of background psychological and other variables of orthorexic (ON) tendency in a sample of young women with special interest in healthy lifestyle. The sample consisted of female young adults (N = 310; aged 18-35 years; mean age = 24.3 years; SD = 4.97 years) who were recruited through social media health sites. Besides Orthorexia Nervosa Questionnaire (ORTO‑15), BMI, regular sporting activity, the following scales were used: Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI, drive for thinness, ineffectiveness and maturity fears); Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS); and The Proactive Coping Inventory. In this sample, 37.7% were at risk for ON. Eating disorder attitudes, regular sporting and social media addiction were the most relevant predictors of orthorexic tendency with drive for thinness being the strongest contributor (β = 0.54, p < 0.001). For young women with a special interest in healthy lifestyle, drive for thinness together with regular sporting, ON tendency may serve as a tool for achieving their goal. Social media addiction and other psychological problems (feeling of ineffectiveness or maturity fears) can also contribute to orthorexic rendency. It would be important to ask for support from qualified health professionals when changing nutritional practices.