Orthorexia nervosa in nutrition students: association with nutritional status, body satisfaction and coursed period

ABSTRACT Objective To identify the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa (ON)'s risky behaviors and their association with nutritional status, body satisfaction and coursed period in nutrition students. Methods The study included 141 students (mean age 21.5 ± 3.5 years). The risk behavior to ON was assessed by using the questionnaire to identify ON (ORTHO-15) and body satisfaction with the Body Shape Questionnaire. The classification of nutritional status was evaluated by BMI (kg.m-2). Association between variables was evaluated by chi-square test (p < 0.05). Results Eating behaviors at risk for ON were identified in 87.2% of students. Students with ON had more body dissatisfaction (χ2 = 7.48; p = 0.005) and overweight (χ2 = 6.56; p = 0.010). No association was observed between the ON and coursed period. Conclusion The results show that Nutrition students seem to be a population at a particular risk for ON, regardless of the coursed period studied. The higher frequency of students with ON and overweight and body dissatisfaction may suggest that such conditions, which commonly occur with concerns about healthy eating, may facilitate the initiation of the development of eating behaviors associated with ON.