Department of Psychology, Texas State University, 601 University Dr, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
Eat Weight Disord. 2019 Jun;24(3):495-506. doi: 10.1007/s40519-019-00657-0. Epub 2019 Feb 22.
This research explored whether symptoms of orthorexia nervosa (ON), a condition involving obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors regarding healthy eating, are associated with differences pertaining to use of nutritional supplements and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques, to health locus of control, and to symptoms of poor physical health.
An anonymous online survey assessing the variables above was completed by college students at a university in the southern United States: 47 in the ON symptoms group, 50 in the healthy-eating control group, and 83 in the normal-eating control group.
Compared to both control groups, the ON symptoms group reported greater supplement use and CAM participation, more reasons for these behaviors for the purpose of improving psychological health (i.e., to increase energy, enhance focus, and improve mood), and greater symptoms associated with poor physical health. None of the groups differed on internal or external health locus of control.
For those with ON, "healthy" eating behaviors are accompanied by other health behaviors that include supplement use and CAM activities. However, despite their goal of achieving perfect health, these individuals experience diminished physical health with symptoms that may be related to their severe dietary restrictions.
Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.
本研究旨在探讨厌食症（ON）症状是否与营养补充剂和补充替代医学（CAM）技术的使用、健康控制源以及身体健康状况不佳的症状有关，而厌食症是一种涉及对健康饮食的强迫性思维和强迫性行为的病症。
美国南部一所大学的大学生通过匿名在线调查完成了上述变量的评估：ON 症状组 47 人，健康饮食对照组 50 人，正常饮食对照组 83 人。
与两个对照组相比，ON 症状组报告了更多的补充剂使用和 CAM 参与，更多的使用这些行为来改善心理健康的原因（即增加能量、提高注意力和改善情绪），以及更多与身体健康状况不佳相关的症状。在内部或外部健康控制源方面，没有任何一组存在差异。
对于那些有 ON 症状的人来说，“健康”的饮食习惯伴随着其他健康行为，包括补充剂使用和 CAM 活动。然而，尽管他们的目标是达到完美的健康，但这些人会经历身体健康状况的下降，其症状可能与他们严格的饮食限制有关。
V 级，描述性横断面研究。
