The Relationship between the Severity of Orthorexia Nervosa Symptoms, The Severity of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, and Perfectionism

Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by an obsession with healthy eating; it significantly affects individuals’ thoughts and behaviours and can therefore have a serious negative impact on their quality of life. This disorder typically manifests itself through the individual adopting excessively regimented, rigid and restrictive eating habits; this can significantly and negatively affect the individual’s social relationships and general daily life. The obsessions associated with orthorexia nervosa, alongside symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and perfectionist tendencies, constitute a noteworthy area of research. The level of obsessive-compulsive symptoms encompasses behaviours associated with repetitive and uncontrollable thoughts, which are influenced by genetic and environmental factors; perfectionism, on the other hand, is directly linked to the effort to meet high standards and the fear of making mistakes. A detailed examination of the relationships between these three key factors holds the potential to provide a deeper understanding of the pathogenic structure of orthorexia nervosa and its clinical course. In particular, identifying these relationships could form a basis not only for the development of effective and practical treatment approaches but also for the planning of personalised psychological interventions. In this study, for the reasons outlined, the aim is to systematically analyse the relationship between the level of orthorexia nervosa symptoms, the level of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and the level of perfectionism.