Araştırma Makalesi

Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students

Cilt: 7 Sayı: 1 19 Ekim 2026
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Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students

Öz

Objective: Orthorexia nervosa tendencies may reflect rigid health-oriented eating behaviors. Physical activity is central to health promotion and physiotherapy, but its association with orthorexic tendencies may vary by activity intensity and cognitive flexibility. This study examined these associations among health sciences students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 492 health sciences students from a public university in Türkiye. Orthorexia nervosa tendencies, physical activity, and cognitive flexibility were assessed using the Turkish Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale, Physical Activity Scale-2, and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, respectively. Spearman correlation and multivariable linear regression with robust standard errors were used. Models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and class year. Results: The mean orthorexic tendency score was 22.80±5.76. Orthorexic tendency score correlated positively with the Physical Activity Scale-2 total score and light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity, and negatively with cognitive flexibility scores. In the adjusted model, the Physical Activity Scale-2 total score was positively associated with orthorexic tendency score (B=0.609 per 100 MET-min/day, 95% CI: 0.489–0.730), whereas cognitive flexibility total score was negatively associated (B=-0.459 per 10 points, 95% CI: -0.844 to -0.074). The control dimension, but not the alternatives dimension, was associated with lower orthorexic tendency. The moderate-intensity association did not remain significant after false discovery rate correction. Conclusion: Higher physical activity scores were associated with greater orthorexia nervosa tendencies, whereas higher cognitive flexibility, particularly perceived control, was associated with lower tendencies. Physical activity should be promoted with flexible messages. Keywords: orthorexia nervosa, physical activity, cognitive flexibility, health sciences students, physiotherapy

Anahtar Kelimeler

Destekleyen Kurum

No financial support was received from any institution or organization for this study.

Etik Beyan

This study was approved by Selçuk University Faculty of Health Sciences Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee on 29 April 2026 with approval number 2026/411. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Electronic informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Teşekkür

The authors thank all students who voluntarily participated in this study.

Kaynakça

  1. Anderson, E., & Durstine, J. L. (2019). Physical activity, exercise, and chronic diseases: A brief review. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 1(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2019.08.006
  2. Barthels, F., Barrada, J. R., & Roncero, M. (2019). Orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia as new eating styles. PLOS ONE, 14(7), e0219609. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219609
  3. Barthels, F., Meyer, F., & Pietrowsky, R. (2015). Die Düsseldorfer Orthorexie Skala – Konstruktion und Evaluation eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung orthorektischen Ernährungsverhaltens. Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 44(2), 97–105. https://doi.org/10.1026/1616-3443/a000310
  4. Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., Carty, C., Chaput, J. P., Chastin, S., Chou, R., Dempsey, P. C., DiPietro, L., Ekelund, U., Firth, J., Friedenreich, C. M., Garcia, L., Gichu, M., Jago, R., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Lambert, E., … Willumsen, J. F. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(24), 1451–1462. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
  5. Caferoglu, Z., & Toklu, H. (2022). Orthorexia Nervosa in Turkish dietitians and dietetic students. L’Encéphale, 48(1), 13–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2020.12.006
  6. Champely, S. (2020). pwr: Basic functions for power analysis (Version 1.3-0) [Computer software]. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=pwr
  7. Dennis, J. P., & Vander Wal, J. S. (2010). The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory: Instrument development and estimates of reliability and validity. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 34, 241–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-009-9276-4
  8. Donini, L. M., Barrada, J. R., Barthels, F., Dunn, T. M., Babeau, C., Brytek-Matera, A., Cena, H., Cerolini, S., Cho, H. H., Coimbra, M., Cuzzolaro, M., Ferreira, C., Galfano, V., Grammatikopoulou, M. G., Hallit, S., Håman, L., Hay, P., Jimbo, M., Lasson, C., Lindgren, E. C., … Lombardo, C. (2022). A consensus document on definition and diagnostic criteria for orthorexia nervosa. Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD, 27(8), 3695–3711. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-022-01512-5

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Beslenme Bilimi, Fizyoterapi

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yayımlanma Tarihi

19 Ekim 2026

Gönderilme Tarihi

15 Haziran 2026

Kabul Tarihi

14 Eylül 2026

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2026 Cilt: 7 Sayı: 1

Kaynak Göster

APA
Güler, M. A., & Güler, M. B. (2026). Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students. KTO Karatay Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.59244/ktokusbd.1971645
AMA
1.Güler MA, Güler MB. Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students. KTOKUSB-D. 2026;7(1). doi:10.59244/ktokusbd.1971645
Chicago
Güler, Mehmet Akif, ve Merve Burcu Güler. 2026. “Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students”. KTO Karatay Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 7 (1). https://doi.org/10.59244/ktokusbd.1971645.
EndNote
Güler MA, Güler MB (01 Ekim 2026) Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students. KTO Karatay Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 7 1
IEEE
[1]M. A. Güler ve M. B. Güler, “Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students”, KTOKUSB-D, c. 7, sy 1, Eki. 2026, doi: 10.59244/ktokusbd.1971645.
ISNAD
Güler, Mehmet Akif - Güler, Merve Burcu. “Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students”. KTO Karatay Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 7/1 (01 Ekim 2026). https://doi.org/10.59244/ktokusbd.1971645.
JAMA
1.Güler MA, Güler MB. Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students. KTOKUSB-D. 2026;7. doi:10.59244/ktokusbd.1971645.
MLA
Güler, Mehmet Akif, ve Merve Burcu Güler. “Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students”. KTO Karatay Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, c. 7, sy 1, Ekim 2026, doi:10.59244/ktokusbd.1971645.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet Akif Güler, Merve Burcu Güler. Associations of Physical Activity Intensity and Cognitive Flexibility with Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Health Sciences Students. KTOKUSB-D. 01 Ekim 2026;7(1). doi:10.59244/ktokusbd.1971645