Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fields

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary habits of female students during their college reunion and evaluate their risk of orthorexia nervosa in both health-related and non-health-related fields of study. Methods The study was conducted using the Computer-Assisted Web...

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Main Authors: Wioleta Faruga-Lewicka, Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka, Marek Kardas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01087-1
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author Wioleta Faruga-Lewicka
Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka
Marek Kardas
author_facet Wioleta Faruga-Lewicka
Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka
Marek Kardas
author_sort Wioleta Faruga-Lewicka
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary habits of female students during their college reunion and evaluate their risk of orthorexia nervosa in both health-related and non-health-related fields of study. Methods The study was conducted using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview method. A survey questionnaire was used to conduct the study, which was developed based on a Questionnaire of Eating Behavior and ORTO-15, a questionnaire used tool to assess the risk of orthorexia nervosa. After taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 388 female students participated in the study (the average age 25.02 ± 5.11). Results Polish female students eat an average of 2–3 meals a day during their college reunion and snack in between, reaching most often for fruits and sweets. At breakfast, they most often reach for coffee, bread, and meat products. A lunch consists of potatoes, meat, and vegetable salads, and a dinner of coffee, tea, bread, and cheese. Polish female students drink about 1 L of water a day and 1–2 coffees during their college reunion. In a survey on the risk of orthorexia nervosa, there were no significant differences between health-related female students and non-health-related students (p = 0.69). The nutritional status of most female extramural students was normal. Conclusions The study found no differences in the risk of orthorexia or in eating habits between female students in health-related and non-health-related fields. Trial registration The study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice (BNW/NWN/0052/KB1/44/I/23) in light of the Law of December 5, 1996, on the Profession of Physician and Dentist, which includes a definition of medical experimentation.
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spelling doaj-art-9f1a8ee10f914768b2380418b72e65cc2025-08-20T03:03:41ZengBMCBMC Nutrition2055-09282025-07-0111111210.1186/s40795-025-01087-1Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fieldsWioleta Faruga-Lewicka0Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka1Marek Kardas2Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in KatowiceDepartment of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in KatowiceDepartment of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in KatowiceAbstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary habits of female students during their college reunion and evaluate their risk of orthorexia nervosa in both health-related and non-health-related fields of study. Methods The study was conducted using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview method. A survey questionnaire was used to conduct the study, which was developed based on a Questionnaire of Eating Behavior and ORTO-15, a questionnaire used tool to assess the risk of orthorexia nervosa. After taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 388 female students participated in the study (the average age 25.02 ± 5.11). Results Polish female students eat an average of 2–3 meals a day during their college reunion and snack in between, reaching most often for fruits and sweets. At breakfast, they most often reach for coffee, bread, and meat products. A lunch consists of potatoes, meat, and vegetable salads, and a dinner of coffee, tea, bread, and cheese. Polish female students drink about 1 L of water a day and 1–2 coffees during their college reunion. In a survey on the risk of orthorexia nervosa, there were no significant differences between health-related female students and non-health-related students (p = 0.69). The nutritional status of most female extramural students was normal. Conclusions The study found no differences in the risk of orthorexia or in eating habits between female students in health-related and non-health-related fields. Trial registration The study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice (BNW/NWN/0052/KB1/44/I/23) in light of the Law of December 5, 1996, on the Profession of Physician and Dentist, which includes a definition of medical experimentation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01087-1Eating habitsDietFemale studentsOrthorexiaHealthEating disorders
spellingShingle Wioleta Faruga-Lewicka
Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka
Marek Kardas
Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fields
BMC Nutrition
Eating habits
Diet
Female students
Orthorexia
Health
Eating disorders
title Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fields
title_full Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fields
title_fullStr Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fields
title_full_unstemmed Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fields
title_short Diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post-graduate students in health-related and non-health-related fields
title_sort diet and risk of orthorexia nervosa among female post graduate students in health related and non health related fields
topic Eating habits
Diet
Female students
Orthorexia
Health
Eating disorders
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01087-1
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