Assessing Prevalence Rates and Clinical Impairment of Orthorexia Nervosa in a U.S. Population

Abstract

Orthorexia nervosa has been characterized as a pathological fixation toward consuming healthy foods. Recognized by U.S. physician Bratman in 1997, orthorexia has received global attention among professionals in the medical field and eating disorder (ED) community. Most literature on orthorexia has been done on international samples. Researchers have questioned if orthorexia warrants its own diagnostic entity as an ED, if the cluster of symptoms would be best explained by an existing condition such as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder or a form of OCD. The culture of clean eating has also been a factor of consideration in the presentation of orthorexia. Instruments to assess orthorexia have been in development, along with working diagnostic criteria. The current study aimed to collect the prevalence rate of orthorexia in a U.S. population and to look at depression, anxiety, and ED pathology as moderating variables. Results revealed a prevalence rate of 7% of orthorexia using the E-DOS. Participants who received elevated scores on the E-DOS and CIA revealed a prevalence rate of 3%. These clinically significant profiles are presented in the results with more in-depth examination. Orthorexia was found to be a predictor of clinical impairment with depression as a moderator. Anxiety and ED pathology were not identified as moderating variables between orthorexia and clinical impairment. The E-DOS as a measure of orthorexia continues to show promising results of reliably detecting orthorexia with consistent prevalence rates. Orthorexia nervosa appears to be a cluster of ED-related symptoms accompanied by clinical impairment, warranting further investigation as a mental health concern.