Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors of Orthorexia Can Differ among the Students of Distinct University Courses

Abstract

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is defined as the excessive attention on healthy eating, and studies especially focused on food quality ON prevalence in university students can be extremely variable. The objective of this study is to investigate whether there was a difference in ON risk between health-scientific, economic-humanistic, sport sciences and dietetics and nutrition students, and to evaluate if lifestyle-related ON risk factors (dieting, physical activity, drugs and supplements use) could have an impact in different ways in determining ON risk among students attending these four programs. Participants were recruited at the University of Pavia and received a two-section questionnaire including demographic and lifestyle information and the ORTO-15 questionnaire. A total of 671 students (54% F e 46% M) completed the questionnaire (median age 21.00 (IQR 20.00–23.00), median BMI 21.77 kg/m2 (IQR 20.06–23.66 kg/m2)). The 31.2% had ORTO-15 test scores < 35, and were considered at risk of having ON. No differences were found in ON risk among the students attending the four university courses. Dieting was confirmed as the major ON risk factor for health-scientific, economic-humanistic and sport sciences students. The type of sport practiced was an important determinant of ON risk only for the economic-humanistic course, while supplements use was statistically different between sport sciences students with or without ON. Our findings may suggest that lifestyle-related risk factors of orthorexia can differ among the students of distinct university courses, but these results need to be supported by further longitudinal and prospective studies.

Associations between Orthorexia Nervosa, Body Self-Image, Nutritional Beliefs, and Behavioral Rigidity

“…Furthermore, the results showing that Brazilian students in the areas of health, human, exact, language, and biological studies presented self-reports of orthorexic behaviors corroborate and expand the generality of the results found by Guglielmetti et al [22], who observed a prevalence of orthorexia in 30% of the sample of 671 students from 4 different university courses, finding no statistical differences among the results of each course. On the other hand, they differ from the results obtained by Grajek et al [23], who observed a higher risk of orthorexia in health students (63.5%) compared to students from other areas of knowledge (25.8%).…”

“…On the other hand, they differ from the results obtained by Grajek et al [23], who observed a higher risk of orthorexia in health students (63.5%) compared to students from other areas of knowledge (25.8%). It is suggested that further studies comparing the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in students from different areas of knowledge and in the general population are carried out, with the aim of confirming the current results and those found by Guglielmetti et al (2022) [22], which will make it possible to expand the scope of these findings.…”

“…The Ortho-15 was the first instrument built to measure orthorexia nervosa, having been validated in several countries. Despite some recent studies [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] questioning the lack of clarity in the validation process of the Ortho-15, pointing out that robust standardization methods were not used and suggesting a more refined verification of the instrument, the Ortho-15 was, and still is, an instrument used to assess orthorexia nervosa in many studies [ 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

“…Among the studies found on the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in university students from different courses [ 22 , 23 , 28 , 29 ], two recently carried studies stand out: Grajek et al (2022) [ 23 ] and Guglielmetti et al (2022) [ 22 ]. In the study by Grajek et al (2022) [ 23 ], the Ortho-15 was used and the prevalence of orthorexia in 300 Polish students was compared.…”

“…The results indicated that 44.5% of the students were at increased risk of orthorexia, being more frequent in the group that belonged to the health areas (63.5% vs. 25.8%). Guglielmetti et al (2022) [ 22 ], in a study conducted in Italy, evaluated the prevalence of orthorexia in 671 students of health sciences, economic-humanities, sports sciences, and dietetics and nutrition, also using the Ortho-15. The prevalence of orthorexia was 30%, and no statistical difference in the risk of orthorexia among students from the four university courses was found, which are divergent results from that found by Grajek et al (2022) [ 23 ], who found a more frequent risk of orthorexia nervosa in students from health areas.…”