Published in

Wiley, Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 7(36), 2024

DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14797

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Presence and characteristics of disordered eating and orthorexia in irritable bowel syndrome

This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

Full text: Unavailable

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionOrthorexia, a harmful obsession with eating healthily, may develop from illnesses characterized by dietary restriction, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and eating disorders (ED). Evidence of disordered eating in IBS exists, but orthorexia has not been assessed. This cross‐sectional study in adults (≥18 years) assessed presence and characteristics of disordered eating and orthorexia in IBS, compared to control subjects (CS) and ED.MethodsIBS participants met Rome IV, and ED participants met DSM‐5 criteria. Disordered eating was assessed using “sick, control, one‐stone, fat, food” (SCOFF, ≥2 indicating disordered eating), and orthorexia by the eating habits questionnaire (EHQ). Secondary measures included stress (PSS); anxiety (HADS‐A); food‐related quality of life (Fr‐QoL), and dietary intake (CNAQ).Key ResultsIn 202 IBS (192 female), 34 ED (34 female), and 109 CS (90 female), more IBS (33%) and ED (47%) scored SCOFF≥2 compared to CS (16%, p < 0.001, chi‐square). IBS and ED had higher orthorexia symptom severity compared to CS (EHQ IBS 82.9 ± 18.1, ED 90.1 ± 19.6, and CS 73.5 ± 16.9, p < 0.001, one‐way ANOVA). IBS and ED did not differ for SCOFF or EHQ (p > 0.05). Those with IBS and disordered eating had higher orthorexia symptom severity (EHQ 78.2 ± 16.6 vs. 92.4 ± 17.5, p < 0.001, independent t‐test), worse symptoms (IBS‐SSS 211.0 ± 78.4 vs. 244.4 ± 62.5, p = 0.008, Mann–Whitney U test), higher stress (p < 0.001, independent t‐test), higher anxiety (p = 0.002, independent t‐test), and worse FR‐QoL (p < 0.001, independent t‐test).Conclusions and InferencesDisordered eating and orthorexia symptoms occur frequently in IBS, particularly in those with worse gastrointestinal symptoms, higher stress, and anxiety. Clinicians could consider these characteristics when prescribing dietary therapies.