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Distinguishing orthorexic behaviors from eating disordered and obsessive–compulsive behaviors: a typological study

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study represents a first attempt to explore the typology of young adults from a large non-clinical sample based on orthorexic (ON), eating disordered (ED) and obsessive–compulsive behaviors (OCD).

Methods

921 individuals (Mage = 20.72, SD = 2.63), 84.6% women (n = 780) and 15.3% men (n = 141), completed a set of questionnaires assessing ON, ED, OCD behaviors and body image attitudes.

Results

Cluster analysis based on ON, ED and OCD behaviors yielded four clearly distinct groups: a “Low” group that was below the sample mean for all behaviors, an “Orthorexic behaviors” group, an “Eating disordered behaviors” and an “Obsessive–compulsive behaviors” group with, respectively, mean scores on ON, ED and OCD behaviors that all were all above the sample means. Using ANOVA, these groups were compared regarding body image attitudes, self-reported BMI, age and educational level. Results show that all clusters differed from each other on virtually all variables. And compared with all other clusters, the “Orthorexic behaviors” cluster displayed greater scores in health and fitness-related aspects of body image. It also differed from the “Eating disordered behaviors” cluster, by its higher scores in appearance evaluation, body areas satisfaction and lower scores in self-classified weight.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the existence of a distinct group of individuals with orthorexic behaviors and its positive body image attitudes and offers significant support for the possibility of ON being a distinct condition from ED and OCD.

Level of evidence

Level V, descriptive study.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Pr. David H. Gleaves for giving us the permission to translate the Eating Habits Questionnaire.

Funding

No funding was provided for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé, Université de Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, UT2J, 5 allées Antonio Machado, 31058, Toulouse, France

    Ecem Yakın, Patrick Raynal & Henri Chabrol

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  1. Ecem Yakın
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  2. Patrick Raynal
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  3. Henri Chabrol
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Contributions

EY and HC designed the study and wrote the protocol. EY conducted literature searches, provided summaries of previous research studies and conducted the statistical analysis. All authors participated in the translation and back-translation processes of the questionnaires. EY wrote the first draft of the manuscript, HC and PR supervised the writing process. All authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ecem Yakın.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethics approval

The study protocol was approved by the local ethics committee (Comité d’Éthique de la Recherche of Toulouse University).

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All participants agreed to give their free and informed consent prior to completing the study.

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All participants were informed that the results from this study were going to be published in scientific journals or congress.

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Yakın, E., Raynal, P. & Chabrol, H. Distinguishing orthorexic behaviors from eating disordered and obsessive–compulsive behaviors: a typological study. Eat Weight Disord 26, 2011–2019 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01037-9

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