Selected eating behaviors and the risk of orthorexia nervosa in a group of high school students.

Abstract

Background: Orthorexia nervosa (ON), or the obsessive desire to eat only healthy foods, is closely linked to eating behaviors. Among adolescents, the risk of developing ON and its consequences, including weight loss and malnutrition, can be particularly significant due to the crucial impact of eating behaviors on an individual's psychophysical development.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the eating behaviors of high school students and the risk of ON.

Material and methods: Observational study was conducted using the PAPI method among 514 students aged 14-19, of which 59.3% (N=305) were female. The research tool was a proprietary, validated questionnaire that included the ORTO-15 test (cutoff score=35) and the BSQFVF. The questionnaire was used to assess the frequency of consumption of selected food products, the level of dietary fiber intake, the quantity and regularity of meals consumed, as well as other eating behaviors of the participants. The individual responses were then analyzed according to the risk of ON using correlation coefficients.

Results: The prevalence of ON risk was found to be 32.1% (N=165). The percentage of individuals at risk of ON was higher among vegetarians. The results regarding the frequency of consumption of animal protein sources, dietary fiber intake, the number of meals and their regularity were similar in both the group at risk of ON and the group not at risk. Over 80% of individuals who never consumed bars, gummies, and candies were at risk of developing ON.

Conclusions: The risk of ON was higher among vegetarians. Individuals who excluded highly processed foods from their diet were more susceptible to developing ON.