Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41230622›Full record

SynthesisThe International journal of eating disorders2026

The Associations Between Vegetarian and Vegan Diets and Orthorexia Nervosa Symptoms in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Valentina Díaz-Goñi, Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni, María Eugenia Visier-Alfonso, Estela Jiménez-López, Rubén Fernández-Rodríguez, José Francisco López-Gil, Tomás Olivo Martins-de-Passos, Alberto Durán González, Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno, Arthur Eumann Mesas

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The International journal of eating disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Valentina Díaz-GoñiHealth and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1724-1893
Bruno Bizzozero-PeroniHealth and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0614-5561
María Eugenia Visier-AlfonsoHealth and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0364-8032
Estela Jiménez-LópezHealth and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8553-7701
Rubén Fernández-RodríguezDepartment of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Science, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7504-1534
José Francisco López-GilSchool of Medicine, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón, Ecuador.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7412-7624
Tomás Olivo Martins-de-PassosHealth and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2419-6857
Alberto Durán GonzálezPostgraduate Program in Public Health, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4203-9400
Vicente Martínez-VizcaínoHealth and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6121-7893
Arthur Eumann MesasHealth and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0088-8607

Funding

Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness RD21/0016/0025National Agency for Research and Innovation POS_EXT_2023_1_175630Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, co-financed by the European Social Fund 2020-PREDUCLM-16746Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, co-financed by the European Social Fund 2022-GRIN-34427
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo synthesize the evidence on the associations between vegetarian and/or vegan diets (VVDs) and symptoms of orthorexia nervosa (ON) compared with omnivorous diets in the adult population.

methodFollowing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the Meta-analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched the MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase/Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases up to June 17, 2025, with no language or date restrictions. Random effects models with the Sidik-Jonkman method were used to estimate pooled effect sizes.

resultsThe meta-analysis included 26 cross-sectional studies with a total of 23,783 participants (72.0% female; mean age range: 19.6-51.0 years). Adults who followed VVDs had moderately higher ON symptoms compared to omnivores (standardized mean differences using Cohen's d index = 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33, 0.60; inconsistency index [I DISCUSSION: Adherence to VVD is associated with higher ON symptoms in young and middle-aged adults. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to high heterogeneity and the low overall methodological quality of the exclusively cross-sectional studies included. Higher-quality longitudinal studies using validated assessment tools are needed to establish clearer causal relationships and inform clinical screening and intervention strategies.

Indexed as

Diet, VeganDiet, VegetarianFeeding and Eating DisordersAdultFemaleHumanscross‐sectionaldietary patternsdisordered eating behaviorfeeding and eating disordersmental healthobsessive healthy eatingorthorexiaplant‐based dietvegetarian

Identifiers

PMID41230622
PMCPMC12979968

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.