Detection of Orthorexia Nervosa with the Turkish Version of ONI in Dietitians: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective: Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is defined pathological condition in which righteous eating obsession. It is known that dietitians may be trend to ON in developing healthy eating habits as a result of nutrition education and dietetic practices. This study aimed to determine ON tendency and eating attitude with the Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory (ONI), which includes all diagnostic criteria, in dietitians in the risk group for ON. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in December 2022 and February 2023 among 206 dietitians in Turkey. Participants completed questionnaire related to individual characteristics, ONI, and Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26). Results: The mean score of ONI in dietitians was 37.5±9.7. The total score of ONI and the median value of all ONI sub-dimensions were statistically significantly higher in dietitians with abnormal eating behavior. There is a positive moderate relationship between the total score of EAT-26 and the total score of ONI (r=0.502, p<0.01). The total score of EAT-26 is positively correlated with ONI sub-dimensions and total score of ONI. On the other hand, this study does not support nutritional education's concerns that increased preoccupation with healthy eating may lead to disordered eating patterns. Conclusion: More longitudinal, prospective studies are needed to assess whether ON and eating disorders progress in dietitians. These studies are very important because dietitians also provide counseling to other people in the field of nutrition and affect their nutrition programs.

Keywords

• Orthorexia nervosa
• Eating disorders
• Eating attitude
• Dietetians
• Nutritionists

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