Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa in Academicians and the Influencing Factors

Abstract

Objective: Orthorexia Nervosa/Healthy Eating Obsession is defined as a pathological obsession for consuming appropriate and healthy food. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in academicians working in a public university and the influencing factors. Methods: This study was concluded between 01 January– 01 March 2020 to determine the prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa and its correlation with influencing factors. The data of the study were collected using the Eating Attitude Test-40 (EAT-40) and the ORTO-11 along with the information form. Results: In this study, it was observed that an advanced age caused a higher risk of eating disorder. In addition, the variables of being in the age range of 34-41 years, being female, and receiving undergraduate education were significant in terms of reducing the risk of Orthorexia Nervosa (p>0.05). Conclusion: Factors such as industrialization, developments in the socio-economic structure, and mass media cause changes and new tendencies in dietary habits and food consumption. As it is believed that these conditions will become even more widespread in the future and affect all sections of society, including academicians who are accepted to be a risk group due to their perfectionist structure; it is of prime importance to raise awareness of society and inform individuals from a multidisciplinary approach including dieticians.