Orthorexia nervosa, mindful eating, and perfectionism: an exploratory investigation

Abstract

Purpose Research has drawn associations between Mindful Eating (ME) and perfectionism in the aetiology and treatment of eating disorders (ED), but understanding into the relationship between these factors and Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is limited. The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between perfectionism, ME, and ON. Method Participants (n = 670) completed the Düsseldorf Orthorexia scale, the Mindful Eating Behavior scale, and the Big-Three Perfectionism scale Short-form, to reveal the relationship between ON, ME, and perfectionism. The relationship was assessed using correlational and regression analyses. Results A positive association was observed between perfectionism and ON. Moreover, perfectionism demonstrated a significant negative correlation with three out of four ME facets, with “eating without distraction” displaying the highest correlation. The “eating with awareness” facet of ME demonstrated a significant relationship with ON, in a negative direction. An unexpected relationship was observed between the focused eating facet of ME and ON, with a positive association being found. A further regression analysis revealed both perfectionism and ME to predict orthorexic tendencies. Conclusion These findings identify a relationship between ON, ME, and perfectionism. It offers suggestion for the complexity of ME, and how it should be recognised by its different components, estimating a differential predictability and estimation of ON. Further research is required to clarify the direction of causality in the relationships observed, to inform the clinical diagnoses and intervention of ON. Level of evidence Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Mindful eating and eating behaviours in Greece: exploring the validity and reliability of two mindful eating scales and other eating behaviours for Greek-speaking populations

“…Convergent and discriminant validity did significantly replicate previous findings. The scales used for convergent and discriminant validity matched similar non-clinical research with English-speaking samples, and rationales on potential associations to mindful eating can be found in the literature, such as mindful eating and: motivations to eat palatable foods (e.g., [ 33 , 40 ]), orthorexia (e.g., [ 32 , 35 , 52 , 53 ]), emotional eating (e.g., [ 30 , 31 , 52 , 54 ]), cravings (e.g., [ 29 ]), and grazing (e.g., [ 34 ]). Meanwhile, Epicurean eating, preference to supersize and stress-induced eating appear relevant to mindful eating and implications can be drawn from other literature on mindfulness and different levels of sensory attentiveness (e.g., [ 28 , 55 – 57 ]).…”

“…The availability of other eating behaviour questionnaires validated in the Greek language was limited, forcing a similar forward–backwards translation, as well as an assessment of face validity and internal consistency of a palatable eating motives scale [ 22 ], a grazing scale [ 23 ], a craving scale [ 24 ], an orthorexia scale [ 25 ], an emotional eating scale [ 26 ], a stress eating scale [ 27 ], and an Epicurean eating scale (inclusive of a preference for supersizing sub-scale; see [ 28 ]). Based on corresponding research employing English-speaking samples, we expected motivations to eat palatable foods, emotional eating, cravings, grazing, preference to supersize, stress-induced eating and orthorexia to relate negatively to mindful eating measures (e.g., [ 29 – 35 ]). Meanwhile, when the preference for supersizing is seen as the opposite polar of Epicurean eating (see [ 28 ]), and Epicurean eating has a description of preference for quality and appreciation of the sensation of food and eating, we expected a positive relationship to mindful eating.…”

The indirect role of orthorexia nervosa and eating attitudes in the association between perfectionism and muscle dysmorphic disorder in Lebanese male University students – results of a pilot study

“…Adherence to perfect rules in life is a predictor of mental illness and eating disorders [29]. Higher perfectionism was associated with more orthorexia nervosa in two studies [30][31][32]. Recent findings showed that all dimensions of perfectionism were positively associated with following strict eating rules, and namely, ON [33].…”

Síndrome ortoréxico y perfeccionismo

“…Dado que es probable que estas personas sean particularmente susceptibles a los problemas relacionados con la salud y la nutrición (3) , en congruencia con un esquema alimentario consciente (44) , pueden sentir la presión de ser modelos a seguir para la salud (45) , y mostrar tendencias hacia el perfeccionismo; vale decir, la persecución de elevados estándares de desempeño, muy críticamente evaluados, con una excesiva preocupación por cometer errores (46) ; el cual puede manifestarse adaptativamente, al suponer la búsqueda funcional y positiva de la excelencia, que posee poca relevancia clínica (47) y que podría detectarse en la ortorexia saludable, cuya esencia configura más bien un estilo de vida, más que un trastorno. En cambio, el tipo de perfeccionismo inherente a la ortorexia nerviosa, representa el aspecto desadaptativo o negativo de éste (48) , ya que concibe la percepción de que permanentemente no se logran cumplir los altos estándares auto-impuestos.…”