@article{ref1,
title="Orthorexic tendencies in the general population: association with demographic data, psychiatric symptoms, and utilization of mental health services",
journal="Eating and weight disorders - studies on anorexia, bulimia and obesity",
year="2020",
author="Greetfeld, Martin and Hessler-Kaufmann, Johannes Baltasar and Brandl, Beate and Skurk, Tomas and Holzapfel, Christina and Quadflieg, Norbert and Schlegl, Sandra and Hauner, Hans and Voderholzer, Ulrich",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by a preoccupation to eat healthily and restrictive eating habits despite negative psychosocial and physical consequences. As a relatively new construct, its prevalence and correlates in the general population and the associated utilization of mental health services are unclear.   METHODS: Adults from the general population completed the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), the Short Eating Disorder Examination (SEED).   RESULTS: Five-hundred eleven (63.4% female) participants with a mean age of 43.39 (SD = 18.06) completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of ON according to the DOS was 2.3%. Considering only effects of at least intermediate size, independent samples t-tests suggested higher DOS scores for persons with bulimia nervosa (p < .001, Cohen's d = 1.14), somatoform syndrome (p = .012, d = .60), and major depressive syndrome (compared p < .001, d = 1.78) according to PHQ as well as those who reported to always experience fear of gaining weight (p < .001, d = 1.78). The DOS score correlated moderately strong and positively with the PHQ depression (r = .37, p < .001) and stress (r = .33, p < .001) scores as well as the SEED bulimia score (r = .32, p < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, only PHQ depression scores were associated with past psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatment (OR = 1.20, p = .002) and intake of psychotropic medication in the last year (OR = 1.22, p = .013).   CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ON was low compared to international studies but is in line with other non-representative German studies. Orthorexic tendencies related to general mental distress and eating disorder symptoms but were no independent reason for seeking treatment.   LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1124-4909",
doi="10.1007/s40519-020-00961-0",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00961-0"
}