Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fields.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary habits of female students during their college reunion and evaluate their risk of orthorexia nervosa in both health-related and non-health-related fields of study.

Methods: The study was conducted using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview method. A survey questionnaire was used to conduct the study, which was developed based on a Questionnaire of Eating Behavior and ORTO-15, a questionnaire used tool to assess the risk of orthorexia nervosa. After taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 388 female students participated in the study (the average age 25.02 ± 5.11).

Results: Polish female students eat an average of 2-3 meals a day during their college reunion and snack in between, reaching most often for fruits and sweets. At breakfast, they most often reach for coffee, bread, and meat products. A lunch consists of potatoes, meat, and vegetable salads, and a dinner of coffee, tea, bread, and cheese. Polish female students drink about 1 L of water a day and 1-2 coffees during their college reunion. In a survey on the risk of orthorexia nervosa, there were no significant differences between health-related female students and non-health-related students (p = 0.69). The nutritional status of most female extramural students was normal.

Conclusions: The study found no differences in the risk of orthorexia or in eating habits between female students in health-related and non-health-related fields.

Trial registration: The study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice (BNW/NWN/0052/KB1/44/I/23) in light of the Law of December 5, 1996, on the Profession of Physician and Dentist, which includes a definition of medical experimentation.