ArticleBMC psychiatry2026
Multidimensional body image and self-esteem: a latent profile analysis differentiating orthorexia nervosa and exercise addiction from disordered eating.
Article in BMC psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundOrthorexia Nervosa (ON), the obsessive preoccupation with healthy eating, and Exercise Addiction (EA), the behavioral addiction to exercise, are controversially discussed as potential mental disorders. The unclear distinction between these conditions and disordered eating, especially regarding restrictive eating and instrumental exercise behaviors, contributes to this debate. The objective of the study was to ascertain whether latent profiles can be identified that support the independence of ON and EA from disordered eating. It was hypothesized that ON profiles would be characterized by stronger health orientation, EA profiles by greater fitness orientation, and disordered eating profiles by heightened preoccupation with overweight, appearance concerns, and lower self-esteem.
methodsA total of 661 participants (77.2% women, age M ± SD = 26.74 ± 9.68) completed an online survey including the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale, Revised Exercise Addiction Inventory, Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Latent profile analysis was used to identify distinct subgroups of ON, EA, and disordered eating, which were subsequently compared on self-esteem and body image measures using one-way ANOVAs.
resultsThe latent profile analysis yielded five distinct profiles: In addition to two "healthy" clusters - one characterized by non-pathological eating behaviors and the other by low commitment to both diet and exercise - three profiles were identified as being of potential clinical interest. These included: (I) disordered eating, ON and instrumental exercise; (II) disordered eating alone; and (III) EA. Notably, no profile was characterized exclusively by ON. Profile I - which exhibited the highest levels of ON, EA and disordered eating - was marked by the lowest self-esteem and the strongest concerns about appearance, overweight, fitness, and health. Conversely, profile III was characterized by only modestly elevated EA levels, favorable body image, and self-esteem.
conclusionsThese findings question the independence of ON, as it was closely intertwined with disordered eating pathology rather than forming a distinct behavioral pattern. Exercise addiction showed relatively low symptom severity in the absence of disordered eating, highlighting the risk of falsely identifying instrumental exercise as EA. Instrumental exercise and orthorexic tendencies may worsen negative body image in disordered eating by increasing pressure on appearance, fitness, and health of individuals. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
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