Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among medical students of South India

Abstract Introduction: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by a relentless, uncomfortable intrusive thought pattern, stereotyped behavior, and an extreme worry about maintaining a healthy diet that pulls all consideration to food. This compulsive behavior may affect daily functioning. Medical complications of orthorexic behavior include malnutrition, anemia, digestion problems, electrolyte, hormonal imbalance, severe weight loss and excessive anxiety. Like other eating disorders, this condition causes many psychological and medical complications, and research in this area is limited. Therefore, the reason for conducting this research was to determine the prevalence and severity of ON in medical students. Aims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of ON in the 263 research samples, to compare prevalence among undergraduates and postgraduates, and to determine the association between demographic variables and a 15 item questionnare for diagnosis of orthorexia nervosa ORTO-15 scores. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of ON on the ORTO-15 scale among medical students. Sociodemographic details such as age, gender, body mass index, and level of physical activity were obtained from the study sample. Results: ON was prevalent in 29.86% of the study population (ORTO-15 score ≥40). Females had more tendency than males. ON was more prevalent in postgraduates and undergraduates, with a prevalence of 26.7% and 26.98%, respectively. Eating habits and ORTO-15 scores had a significant association. Conclusion: The propensity for ON is widespread among medical students. Increased knowledge of nutritious eating will aid in problem prevention.