Evaluation of Eating Attitude, Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, and Relationship Between Orthorexia Nervosa in Faculty of Pharmacy Students

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationships between eating attitudes, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and orthorexia nervosa (ON) among pharmacy students. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Istanbul University with 332 pharmacy students, using ORTO-11, Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), and Eating Attitude Test (EAT-40) scales. After excluding outliers, data from 323 participants were analyzed using SPSS 24.0. A significant negative correlation was found between EAT-40 and ORTO-11 scores (r =-0.405; p < 0.001), and MOCI sub-dimensions showed significant correlations with both EAT-40 and ORTO-11. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that orthorexia nervosa significantly predicted eating attitudes, explaining 16.4% of the variance (F(1, 321) = 62.873, p < 0.05), while MOCI sub-dimensions did not significantly improve the model’s predictive power. Female students exhibited higher levels of orthorexia nervosa compared to males, consistent with literature suggesting that women are more prone to eating disorders and health-related anxiety. Students exhibited traits overlapping with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which may contribute to the development of eating disorders. The findings underscore the importance of addressing orthorexia nervosa and related obsessive-compulsive traits to promote healthier eating behaviors among pharmacy students. Educational programs that encourage balanced eating habits without excessive restriction can be developed, and students’ mental health can be supported through psychological counseling and awareness-raising initiatives. These measures may help mitigate the negative impacts of obsessive-compulsive traits and orthorexic tendencies in this population. © 2025, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.