Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 63. No. 2, 2024.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2024.63.02.6
The prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among gym participants from Croatia: an observational study
Edita Ružman
orcid.org/0009-0007-8017-4068
; Department of Food and Nutrition Research, Osijek Faculty of Food Technology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Orjena Žaja
orcid.org/0000-0003-3987-8008
; Department of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
Jadranka Karuza
orcid.org/0000-0002-8374-2864
; Private Family Physician Offi ce affi liated to University of Rijeka, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
Ines Banjari
orcid.org/0000-0002-8680-5007
; Department of Food and Nutrition Research, Osijek Faculty of Food Technology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is pathological obsession and preoccupation with
‘healthy’ and ‘clean’ eating, which is more pronounced in specific population groups such as fitness
enthusiasts. The aim of this observational study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics
of ON symptoms among gym attendees in Croatia based on ORTHO-15 questionnaire. A number
of individual characteristics were considered too, from eating habits, anthropometry, personality traits,
psychophysical state, to the presence of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Out of 126 participants
who completed the questionnaire, 99 were analyzed (female 68.7% and male 31.3%, median age 24
years). Based on the traditional criterion (ORTHO-15 score <40), the prevalence of ON was 77.8%
and 33.3% according to the modified criterion (ORTHO-15 <35). Women were two times more
likely to have high ON tendency in comparison to men (39.7% vs. 19.4%, p=0.037). Participants with
high ON tendency avoided a wide variety of foods, especially sugar, processed food and gluten, and did
not skip meals. Th ere were no significant differences in orthorexic tendencies according to nutritional
status, personality traits, psychophysical state, or irritable bowel symptoms. For gym attendees in
Croatia, being a woman and dietary restrictions were identified as independent risk factors for ON.
Keywords
Orthorexia nervosa; Eating disorders; Gym attendees; Dietary restriction; Nutritional status, Psychological condition; Irritable bowel syndrome
Hrčak ID:
327949
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2025.
Visits: 753 *