Attitudes towards ‘superfood’ depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in Poland and The Netherlands
Introduction Ortoreksja nervosa is an eating disorder that can affect young people. It is characterized by excessive care for the quality of consumed products, also in terms of their positive effect on the human body. This type of food, both with high nutritional quality and health-promoting propert...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Rural Health
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.monz.pl/Attitudes-towards-superfood-depending-on-the-risk-of-orthorexia-among-students-in,125389,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1818644097495203840 |
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| author | Karolina Osowiecka Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak |
| author_facet | Karolina Osowiecka Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak |
| author_sort | Karolina Osowiecka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
Ortoreksja nervosa is an eating disorder that can affect young people. It is characterized by excessive care for the quality of consumed products, also in terms of their positive effect on the human body. This type of food, both with high nutritional quality and health-promoting properties, includes products called ‘superfood’ (e.g. goji berries, chia seeds).
Objectives
The aim of the study was to assess the risk of orthorexia and to analyze attitudes towards ‘superfood’ among students from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), Poland, and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in Wageningen, The Netherlands
Material and methods
240 students participated in the study. The risk of orthorexia was assessed on the basis of a validated ORTO-15 questionnaire, with a cut-off point of 35 points. Knowledge and attitudes towards ‘superfoods’ were evaluated based on the author’s questionnaire, including also questions about anthropometric and socio-demographic characteristics.
Results
The examined groups of students were of a similar age (WULS 22.0 ± 3.0 years; WUR 22.8 ± 4.6 years), 75% of the respondents had normal body weight. About 30% of students from WULS and 26% from WUR showed the risk of orthorexia. The best-known products with health-promoting properties were: ginger, ginseng, chia seeds and aloe vera. In contrast, the most frequently consumed were ginger and turmeric. A relationship between orthorexia and superfood consumption was observed for goji berries, amaranth (WULS students) and ginseng (WUR students)
Conclusions
The relationship between orthorexia and the knowledge and consumption of superfoods products was shown only for 3 products. The obtained results could have been influenced by the small percentage of students with a confirmed risk of orthorexia in the study group. Therefore, to formulate binding conclusions about the relationship between orthoretic behaviour and the knowledge and consumption of superfoods products, further research on a bigger study group is recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T00:09:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17e7c0a976a14b95a1a26df0ce9cc482 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2083-4543 2084-4905 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T00:09:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Rural Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu |
| spelling | doaj.art-17e7c0a976a14b95a1a26df0ce9cc4822022-12-21T22:10:51ZengInstitute of Rural HealthMedycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu2083-45432084-49052020-12-0126437838310.26444/monz/125389125389Attitudes towards ‘superfood’ depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in Poland and The NetherlandsKarolina Osowiecka0Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak1Department of Dietetics, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Dietetics, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), Warsaw, PolandIntroduction Ortoreksja nervosa is an eating disorder that can affect young people. It is characterized by excessive care for the quality of consumed products, also in terms of their positive effect on the human body. This type of food, both with high nutritional quality and health-promoting properties, includes products called ‘superfood’ (e.g. goji berries, chia seeds). Objectives The aim of the study was to assess the risk of orthorexia and to analyze attitudes towards ‘superfood’ among students from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), Poland, and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in Wageningen, The Netherlands Material and methods 240 students participated in the study. The risk of orthorexia was assessed on the basis of a validated ORTO-15 questionnaire, with a cut-off point of 35 points. Knowledge and attitudes towards ‘superfoods’ were evaluated based on the author’s questionnaire, including also questions about anthropometric and socio-demographic characteristics. Results The examined groups of students were of a similar age (WULS 22.0 ± 3.0 years; WUR 22.8 ± 4.6 years), 75% of the respondents had normal body weight. About 30% of students from WULS and 26% from WUR showed the risk of orthorexia. The best-known products with health-promoting properties were: ginger, ginseng, chia seeds and aloe vera. In contrast, the most frequently consumed were ginger and turmeric. A relationship between orthorexia and superfood consumption was observed for goji berries, amaranth (WULS students) and ginseng (WUR students) Conclusions The relationship between orthorexia and the knowledge and consumption of superfoods products was shown only for 3 products. The obtained results could have been influenced by the small percentage of students with a confirmed risk of orthorexia in the study group. Therefore, to formulate binding conclusions about the relationship between orthoretic behaviour and the knowledge and consumption of superfoods products, further research on a bigger study group is recommended.http://www.monz.pl/Attitudes-towards-superfood-depending-on-the-risk-of-orthorexia-among-students-in,125389,0,2.htmlorthorexia nervosasuperfoodeating behaviornutritional knowledgeyoung adultseating disorders |
| spellingShingle | Karolina Osowiecka Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak Attitudes towards ‘superfood’ depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in Poland and The Netherlands Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu orthorexia nervosa superfood eating behavior nutritional knowledge young adults eating disorders |
| title | Attitudes towards ‘superfood’ depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in Poland and The Netherlands |
| title_full | Attitudes towards ‘superfood’ depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in Poland and The Netherlands |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes towards ‘superfood’ depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in Poland and The Netherlands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes towards ‘superfood’ depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in Poland and The Netherlands |
| title_short | Attitudes towards ‘superfood’ depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in Poland and The Netherlands |
| title_sort | attitudes towards superfood depending on the risk of orthorexia among students in poland and the netherlands |
| topic | orthorexia nervosa superfood eating behavior nutritional knowledge young adults eating disorders |
| url | http://www.monz.pl/Attitudes-towards-superfood-depending-on-the-risk-of-orthorexia-among-students-in,125389,0,2.html |
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