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The relationship between healthy eating obsessions, clinical eating disorder, and health anxiety: The dark side of the pursuit of healthy eating
This study aimed to explore the relationship between orthorexia nervosa (ON), eating disorders, and health anxiety in a sample of 654 adults aged 19 to 50 years. Participants completed sociodemographic questionnaires and three assessment instruments: the Orthorexia Nervosa Scale (ORTO-R), Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA), and Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI-18). The findings revealed significant positive correlations among the scales, with ORTO-R and CIA showing a correlation of r = 0.461, ORTO-R and SHAI-18 at r = 0.364, and CIA and SHAI-18 at r = 0.429 (all p = 0.000). Regression analyses indicated reciprocal associations, where elevated CIA and SHAI-18 scores correlated with increased ORTO-R scores (β = 0.350 and β = 0.203, respectively; Adjusted R² = 0.266). Conversely, higher ORTO-R and SHAI-18 scores were predictive of higher CIA scores (β = 0.316 and β = 0.262, respectively; Adjusted R² = 0.338). Additionally, both ORTO-R and CIA were found to predict SHAI-18 scores (β = 0.213 and β = 0.305, respectively; Adjusted R² = 0.228).
In conclusion, the study established significant interrelations among orthorexia nervosa, clinical eating disorders, and health anxiety. These insights are crucial for developing public health communication strategies that advocate for balanced and evidence-based health behaviors. [NPID: Orthorexia nervosa, eating disorders, health anxiety]
Year: 2025
