Orthorexia nervosa: The relationship with obsessive-compulsive symptoms and eating attitudes among individuals with and without healthcare professionals

BACKGROUND: Today, individuals with eating disorders or orthorexia nervosa (ON) are increasing. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the association between ON, eating attitudes, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms among healthcare and non-healthcare professionals. METHODS: The present study was cross-sectional, and conducted by 310 healthcare, and non-healthcare professionals. Data on demographic characteristics, the Orthorexia Nervosa Evaluation Scale (ORTO-15), the Eating Attitudes Test-40 (EAT-40), and the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) were obtained by a questionnaire form. Additionally, the body weight and height of participants were taken to calculate the body mass index (BMI). Data were analyzed with SPSS statistical package 24.0. RESULTS: The ORTO-15 score of 30.3% of healthcare professionals and 27.1% of non-healthcare professionals were ≤40 (p: 0.616). The EAT-40 scores were found to be ≥30 in 7.7% of healthcare professionals and 4.5% of non-healthcare professionals (p: 0.081). According to the MOCI scores, the possibility of obsessive-compulsive symptoms was high in 29.7% of healthcare professionals (p <  0.001). There was a weak negative correlation between ORTO-15 and EAT-40 (r: –0.176, p: 0.002) and MOCI (r: –0.170, p: 0.003); and EAT-40 and MOCI (r:0.166, p: 0.03). CONCLUSION: Further studies are required to understand the relationship between ON and eating disorders that are included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) criteria.