Seeing Shred: Differences in muscle dysmorphia, orthorexia nervosa, depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies among groups of weightlifting athletes

Abstract Background Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is a construct characterized by behaviors, emotions, and beliefs on eating healthy food and excessive attention to diet; moreover, dieting has been considered a risk factor in ON symptoms development. The principal aim of this study was to investigate the differences in clinical and non-clinical groups most at risk of ON. Aspects that could be associated with ON (Eating Disorders [EDs], obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, perfectionistic traits, anxiety, depression, Body Mass Index [BMI]) were investigated in all groups. Methods The sample consisted of 329 adults belonging to four different groups. Three were on a diet: Anorexia/Bulimia Nervosa group (N = 90), Obesity/Binge Eating Disorder group (N = 54), Diet group (N = 91). The Control group consisted of people who were not following a diet (N = 94). Participants completed several self-administered questionnaires (EHQ-21, EDI-3, OCI-R, MPS, BAI, BDI-II) to assess ON-related features in different groups. Results Analyses highlighted higher orthorexic tendencies in Anorexia/Bulimia Nervosa, Obesity/BED, and Diet groups than in the Control group. Moreover, results have shown that in the AN/BN group, eating disorders symptomatology and a lower BMI were related to ON and that in Obesity/Binge Eating Disorder and Diet groups, perfectionism traits are associated with ON. Conclusion Individuals who pursue a diet share some similarities with those who have an eating disorder regarding emotions, behaviors, and problems associated with orthorexic tendencies. Moreover, perfectionistic traits seem to predispose to higher ON tendencies. In general, these results confirm the ON as an aspect of the main eating disorders category.

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Historical evolution of the concept of anorexia nervosa and relationships with orthorexia nervosa, autism, and obsessive-compulsive spectrum

Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment ◽

10.2147/ndt.s108912 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol Volume 12 ◽

pp. 1651-1660 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Stefano Pini ◽

Marianna Abelli ◽

Barbara Carpita ◽

Liliana Dell'Osso ◽

Giovanni Castellini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Orthorexia Nervosa ◽

Historical Evolution ◽

Obsessive Compulsive

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Vigorexia: Addiction, obsession or dismorfia; an attempt of approach / Vigorexia: adicción, obsesión o dismorfia; un intento de aproximación

Health and Addictions/Salud y Drogas ◽

10.21134/haaj.v7i2.75 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

Author(s):

José Miguel Rodríguez Molina

Keyword(s):

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Muscle Dysmorphia ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Historical Approach ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Exercise Addiction

El objetivo del presente estudio es un intento de aproximación al concepto de vigorexia. Se realiza una breve aproximación histórica y se incide en la prevalencia del problema. Se intenta definir adecuadamente el concepto. Posteriormente se realiza una definición diferencial con respecto a otros trastornos como la anorexia nerviosa, la adicción al ejercicio, el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC), el Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal (TDC) o Muscular (TDM) y otros. Se estudia la posible etiología y algunos modelos actuales. Se concluye la conveniencia de realizar estudios empíricos diferenciales con respecto a otros conceptos relacionados. Abstract The aim of this study is an attempt of approach to the concept of vigorexia. A brief historical approach is made and it is affected the prevalence of the problem. It is tried to define the concept suitably. Later a definition is made differential with respect to other disorders like the nervous anorexia, the exercise addiction, the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the muscle dysmorphia disorder (MDD) and others. One studies the possible etiology and some present models. The convenience concludes of making empirical studies differentials with respect to other related concepts.

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Investigation of the relationship between orthorexia nervosa tendencies of healthcare professionals and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Journal of Psychiatric Nursing ◽

10.14744/phd.2021.87369 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Güllü Yazkan

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Orthorexia Nervosa ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽

The Relationship

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Traits of orthorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia in Italian university students: a multicentre study

Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity ◽

10.1007/s40519-019-00779-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 1413-1423 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ilaria Silvia Rossella Gorrasi ◽

Silvia Bonetta ◽

Mattia Roppolo ◽

Giovanni Abbate Daga ◽

Simona Bo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Multicentre Study ◽

Muscle Dysmorphia ◽

Orthorexia Nervosa

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Orthorexia Nervosa and the Use of Exposure and Response Prevention to Treat Eating-Related Obsessions and Compulsions

10.1093/med-psych/9780190052775.003.0007 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 103-124

Author(s):

Hana F. Zickgraf

Keyword(s):

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Food Additives ◽

Orthorexia Nervosa ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Restrictive Eating ◽

Compulsive Checking ◽

Clinically Significant

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a proposed diagnosis involving rigid, intrusive thoughts and unusual beliefs about healthy eating, associated with restrictive eating behaviors. People with ON may avoid specific foods, food additives, dyes, or preservatives, and non-organic or genetically modified foods seen as “impure” or “unnatural,” often engaging in compulsive checking, reassurance seeking, decontamination, or other rituals to ensure that food “rules” are followed and that food is “healthy” and “pure.” ON is distinguished from healthy orthorexia, a non-impairing interest in healthy eating and nutrition. The distinction between ON and eating disorders involving obsessions about weight and shape and restrictive eating motivated by fear of weight gain is less clear. In this chapter, ON and related eating disorder symptoms associated with the diagnoses of anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are conceptualized as obsessive-compulsive phenomena. Special considerations for exposure and response interventions for patients with clinically significant restrictive eating are described, including recommendations for when to refer patients to eating disorder specialists.

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Bidimensional Structure of the Orthorexia: Development and Initial Validation of a New Instrument

Anales de Psicología ◽

10.6018/analesps.34.2.299671 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 283 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Juan Ramón Barrada ◽

María Roncero

Keyword(s):

Orthorexia Nervosa ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Psychological Constructs ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Eating Disorder Symptoms ◽

Initial Validation ◽

New Instrument ◽

Initial Item

Orthorexia nervosa could be conceptualized as extreme or excessive preoccupation with eating food believed to be healthy. Up to now, there is no available instrument evaluating every aspect of orthorexia with sufficient psychometric guarantees. The objective of the present study was two-fold. First, to develop and validate a new questionnaire of orthorexia –the Teruel Orthorexia Scale– and, second, to analyze the association with other psychological constructs and disorders theoretically related to orthorexia nervosa: eating disorder symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, negative affect, and perfectionism. Participants were 942 mainly university students who completed a battery of online questionnaires. Starting with an initial item bank of 31 items, we proposed a bidimensional test of orthorexia. This final version, with 17 items, encompassed two related, although differentiable (r = .43), aspects of orthorexia. First, Orthorectic Efforts, which evaluates the “healthy” preoccupation with diet, which is independent of psychopathology, and even inversely associated with it. Second, Orthorectic Concerns, which assesses the negative social and emotional impact of trying to achieve a rigid way of eating. This dimension represents a pathological preoccupation with a healthy diet. This study presents a new instrument that offers promising possibilities in the study of orthorexia.

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Orthorexia Nervosa and its association with obsessive–compulsive disorder symptoms: initial cross-cultural comparison between Polish and Italian university students

Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity ◽

10.1007/s40519-021-01228-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anna Brytek-Matera ◽

Susanna Pardini ◽

Justyna Modrzejewska ◽

Adriana Modrzejewska ◽

Paulina Szymańska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Orthorexia Nervosa ◽

Future Research ◽

Core Beliefs ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Two Samples

Abstract There is limited evidence of a link between Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and no definitive conclusions can be drawn. The interplay between socio-cultural context and ON has been poorly investigated as well. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were: (1) to investigate the differences in ON and OCD symptoms and (2) to assess the relationship between ON and OCD symptoms among university students. Six hundred and sixty-six university students participated in the present study: 286 from Poland and 320 from Italy. No age, gender and marital status differences were identified between two samples of university students. However, on average, Polish university students had a higher Body Mass Index than Italian ones. Our findings showed that Polish students present more problems related to obsessive symptomatology, core beliefs of OCD, perfectionism traits, and a major ON symptomatology than Italian ones. Also, Polish students with a higher level of ON exhibited higher levels of OCD symptoms and parental expectations/parental criticism. While Italian students with a higher level of ON showed higher levels of perfectionism features (organization and concern over mistakes). In general, correlations were low as confirmation of partial independence ON from OCD symptoms and core beliefs of OCD in both Polish and Italian university students. The present results highlight a need for further investigation of the correlates of ON across different cultural groups. Future research may screen individuals with ON to determine the comorbidity between ON and OCD symptomology to facilitate appropriate treatment choices. Level of evidence Level V, Opinions of respected authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.

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