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Orthorexia nervosa and executive dysfunction: symptomatology is related to difficulties with behavioral regulation

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This research explored whether orthorexia nervosa is associated with deficits in executive function.

Methods

A non-clinical sample of participants (n = 405; 80% women, 53% white, mean age = 24, mean body mass index = 25) completed the Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory (ONI) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function—Adult version (BRIEF-A).

Results

ONI scores were weakly to moderately correlated with all BRIEF-A scales (p < 0.001 for eight scales, p < 0.05 for one scale), exhibiting the greatest correlations with the scales assessing behavioral regulation: Emotional Control (r = 0.34), Inhibition (r = 0.30), Set Shifting (r = 0.25), and Self-Monitoring (r = 0.28). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that eight of these nine relationships remained significant (p < 0.001 for five scales including all behavioral regulation scales, p < 0.01 for two scales, p < 0.05 for one scale) after controlling for demographic variables (e.g., gender, body mass index, age, education level) and diagnoses of an eating disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, and learning disability.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that, despite unique manifestations, orthorexia and anorexia may possess an overlapping neuropsychological profile marked by deficits in executive function, which may negatively impact daily life.

Level of evidence

Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA

    Natalie A. Noebel, Crystal D. Oberle & Haley S. Marcell

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  1. Natalie A. Noebel
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  2. Crystal D. Oberle
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  3. Haley S. Marcell
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Correspondence to Crystal D. Oberle.

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All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Texas State University Institutional Review Board and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Noebel, N.A., Oberle, C.D. & Marcell, H.S. Orthorexia nervosa and executive dysfunction: symptomatology is related to difficulties with behavioral regulation. Eat Weight Disord 27, 2019–2026 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01343-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01343-w

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