ORTHOSTYLE OR MODERN NEUROSIS:
Authors: Sumariuk В. M. , Grinko N. V. , Herasymiuk I. H. 
Published: July 2021

Problems of eating behavior and the desire for a healthy diet are topical issue today. The WHO claims that there are patterns of eating behavior that can be a harbinger of other mental illnesses.

The purpose of the research: to study the emotional and behavioral mental manifestations in people with nervous orthorexia, to develop an algorithm for medical and psychological support, calculation of statistical data among respondents (200 people) as a percentage of "norm - orthorexia". Information and educational work on eating disorders among the population of Ukraine.

Material and methods. ORTO-15 (according to the Institute of Food Sciences, University of Rome "La Sapienza") was used to detect people with orthorexia, which determines the obsession with healthy eating. Using the Minnesota Multidisciplinary Personality Questionnaire "MMPI-2", pathopsychological changes were identified, hidden individual tendencies and psychopathological experiences among a group of people with nervous orthorexia were analyzed. Socio-statistical methods were also used to analyze and compare data (age, gender, preferences, place of residence, education, physical activity).

The research involved 200 respondents: 100 women and 100 men. Ukrainians from Ukraine and the diaspora were involved (87% to 13%). More than 60% of participants monitor their weight, play sports and comment on their appearance.

Research findings and their discussion. Of the 200 respondents 15% with orthorexia and 15% with the borderline condition. Among men orthorexia (20%) is more common than borderline condition (16%). In women there is a reverse trend: borderline condition (14%), orthorexia - (10%).

Among the identified men and women with orthorexia, a research was conducted for a detailed analysis of pathopsychological features and individual psychological trends using the MMPI-2 test: orthorexia group (women) 79% - schizophrenia, 68% - psychoasthenia, 19% - hypomania, 6% - hypochondria and psychopathy and orthorexia group (men) 81% - schizophrenia, 66% - psychoasthenia, 21% - hypomania, 8% - hypochondria and psychopathy.

Conclusions. Nervous orthorexia is a modern eating disorder characterized by an obsessive desire for a healthy diet. According to a research among the Ukrainian population: young people (up to 35 years old), people with certain dietary regimes (vegans, vegetarians, pescetarians, raw eaters), people who care about their physical condition are more prone to orthorexia. There is also an association between orthorexia and age generations. Millennials and generation Z are more likely to develop this eating disorder. Also at risk are people with cycloid traits, mood swings, high anxiety and a tendency to obsessive thoughts. There is a link between orthorexia and other neurotic disorders: OCD, anxiety disorder, GAD, somatoform disorder, and variants of adult personality disorder.

Eating disorders can be associated with various stressors and self-perceptions. They occur in people with low self-esteem, in people with an obsessive desire to change their own body (dysmorphomania), as a result of distorted vision of their own body. The media and society make their adjustments to beauty standards, which encourages change. According to the research, 78.4% of men and 82.3% of women want to change their appearance, which may be due to: bullying at school age for excess weight, beauty standards from TV shows, social networks and contemplation of photos with perfect figures.