Lynn McGovern1, Megan Gaffney2, Timothy Trimble2. 1. School of Psychology, Aras an Phiarsaigh, Trinity College, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. lmcgover@tcd.ie. 2. School of Psychology, Aras an Phiarsaigh, Trinity College, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Orthorexia is a proposed disorder that involves a pathological obsession with healthy eating. The condition has received much attention in popular media in recent years, but more empirical research is needed. Currently, orthorexia is an emerging construct with multiple proposed versions of diagnostic criteria, and there is confusion regarding the exact symptoms and pathology. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of orthorexia from the perspective of recovered persons, as defined by Dunn and Bratman's 2016 criteria (Eat Behav 21:11-17, 2016). METHODS: Eight participants from around the world were interviewed via Skype. These interviews were analysed using a descriptive and interpretive thematic analysis (Elliott and Timulak. A handbook of research methods for clinical and health psychology. Oxford University Press, London, pp 147-159, 2005). Informed consent was obtained from all participants. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed four domains: (1) strong external influences; (2) psychological effects; (3) interpersonal functioning effects; and (4) classic eating disorder (ED) behaviours and processes. Some symptoms mirrored those seen in EDs and in obsessive compulsive disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Orthorexia negatively impacted participants' physical, psychological, and social health. Additional research exploring valid and reliable screening instruments, body image, and psychological functioning would help to further understand this proposed disorder. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, qualitative interview study.
PURPOSE: Orthorexia is a proposed disorder that involves a pathological obsession with healthy eating. The condition has received much attention in popular media in recent years, but more empirical research is needed. Currently, orthorexia is an emerging construct with multiple proposed versions of diagnostic criteria, and there is confusion regarding the exact symptoms and pathology. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of orthorexia from the perspective of recovered persons, as defined by Dunn and Bratman's 2016 criteria (Eat Behav 21:11-17, 2016). METHODS: Eight participants from around the world were interviewed via Skype. These interviews were analysed using a descriptive and interpretive thematic analysis (Elliott and Timulak. A handbook of research methods for clinical and health psychology. Oxford University Press, London, pp 147-159, 2005). Informed consent was obtained from all participants. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed four domains: (1) strong external influences; (2) psychological effects; (3) interpersonal functioning effects; and (4) classic eating disorder (ED) behaviours and processes. Some symptoms mirrored those seen in EDs and in obsessive compulsive disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Orthorexia negatively impacted participants' physical, psychological, and social health. Additional research exploring valid and reliable screening instruments, body image, and psychological functioning would help to further understand this proposed disorder. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, qualitative interview study.
Authors: Hellas Cena; Friederike Barthels; Massimo Cuzzolaro; Steven Bratman; Anna Brytek-Matera; Thomas Dunn; Marta Varga; Benjamin Missbach; Lorenzo M Donini Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2018-11-09 Impact factor: 4.652