Thomas M Dunn1,2, Nicole Hawkins3, Stacey Gagliano4, Kristen Stoddard4. 1. School of Psychological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Campus Box 94, Greeley, CO, USA. Thomas.dunn@unco.edu. 2. Behavioral Health Service, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA. Thomas.dunn@unco.edu. 3. Center for Change, Orem, UT, USA. 4. School of Psychological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Campus Box 94, Greeley, CO, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: In recent years, there has been growing interest in pathologically healthful eating, often called orthorexia nervosa (ON). Much of the literature in this area has been about point prevalence of ON in particular populations, which range from less than 1% to nearly 90% depending on the study. Despite this interest, there has been no extensive examination of whether those with pathologically healthful eating are detected by screening instruments that identify disordered eating. This study examines whether individuals who self-report suffering from ON score in the clinical range on the 26-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). METHOD: Individuals (n = 354) sampled from both clinical and non-clinical settings were administered the EAT-26 to determine whether those who self-identify as having ON scored in a range that suggests disordered eating. RESULTS: Participants who self-report suffering from ON had a mean EAT-26 score of 30.89 (SD 12.60) scoring in a range that urges individuals to seek additional advice on whether there is an eating disorder present (scores of 20 and higher fall in a range suggesting a possible eating disorder). Furthermore, those in the ON group scored no differently than those reporting other eating disorders, but significantly higher than a non-clinical control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that a screening instrument for a possible eating disorder is sensitive to pathologically healthful eating (but has no specificity). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case control analytic study.
PURPOSE: In recent years, there has been growing interest in pathologically healthful eating, often called orthorexia nervosa (ON). Much of the literature in this area has been about point prevalence of ON in particular populations, which range from less than 1% to nearly 90% depending on the study. Despite this interest, there has been no extensive examination of whether those with pathologically healthful eating are detected by screening instruments that identify disordered eating. This study examines whether individuals who self-report suffering from ON score in the clinical range on the 26-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). METHOD: Individuals (n = 354) sampled from both clinical and non-clinical settings were administered the EAT-26 to determine whether those who self-identify as having ON scored in a range that suggests disordered eating. RESULTS:Participants who self-report suffering from ON had a mean EAT-26 score of 30.89 (SD 12.60) scoring in a range that urges individuals to seek additional advice on whether there is an eating disorder present (scores of 20 and higher fall in a range suggesting a possible eating disorder). Furthermore, those in the ON group scored no differently than those reporting other eating disorders, but significantly higher than a non-clinical control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that a screening instrument for a possible eating disorder is sensitive to pathologically healthful eating (but has no specificity). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case control analytic study.
Authors: C Blair Burnette; Jessica L Luzier; Brooke L Bennett; Chantel M Weisenmuller; Patrick Kerr; Shelby Martin; Jillian Keener; Lisa Calderwood Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2021-09-25 Impact factor: 4.861