Health Psychology News

"Connection Between Orthorexia Nervosa, Low Self-Esteem, and Obsessive Perfectionism"

A new study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders suggests that individuals with lower self-esteem and heightened obsessive perfectionism are more susceptible to orthorexia nervosa tendencies, a pathological fixation on healthy eating. The study, which included 977 participants from Italy, Lebanon, and Poland, found that those with high levels of obsession-compulsion and perfectionism, alongside low self-esteem, were significantly more prone to exhibit orthorexia nervosa tendencies. Geographical differences also emerged, with participants from Lebanon showing higher orthorexia nervosa tendencies. The study highlights the importance of assessing self-esteem, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, and perfectionism in individuals with orthorexia nervosa tendencies and suggests that interventions aimed at building self-esteem and reducing obsessive–compulsive and perfectionism symptoms may benefit those at risk.