Lack of association between food insecurity, eating disorders, and orthorexia nervosa
Findings from a cross-sectional study in Lebanon
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22089388 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hala Sacre (0000-0001-6547-6251), Chadia Haddad (0000-0003-2413-2684, Lebanese University), Rana Rizk (0000-0002-8850-6502, Lebanese American University, corresponding author), Joanne Karam (0000-0003-2637-1347), Pascale Salameh (0000-0002-4780-0772, Lebanese University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Pages | 1572654-1572654 |
| Publication date | 2025-09-24 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1572654 |
| PMID | 41069823 |
| OpenAlex | W4414483480 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 51 |
Objectives: To investigate the association between food insecurity (FI), eating disorders (EDs), and orthorexia nervosa (ON) among Lebanese university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between 2021 and 2022, enrolled 197 students, from various majors, via snowball sampling. Data were collected on Google Forms via social media platforms. Results: Most participants (59.4%) declared being food-insecure, without financial support (67.0%), nor financial independence (68.5%). Most did not show any ED (81.7%) or a risk of ON (79.7%). Reported EDs were bulimia-nervosa (6.1%) and anorexia-nervosa (6.1%); 4.1% had a high risk of ON. No significant associations were found between declared FI, ED, and the risk of ON. Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (ORa = 1.31) and higher perceived stress (ORa = 1.14) were significantly associated with EDs. Higher exercise addiction scores (ORa = 1.25) and higher insomnia levels (ORa = 1.26) were significantly associated with the risk of ON. Being employed (ORa = 0.17) and skipping meals (ORa = 0.20) were inversely associated with declared ON. Conclusion: FI and EDs were not associated among university students in Lebanon. Research into underlying mechanisms and cultural aspects is crucial to clarifying these associations
Feeding behavior · Food intake · Healthy eating · MEDLINE · Public health · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
Core Indicators of Nutritional State for Difficult-to-Sample Populations
Further Psychometric Support for the 10‐Item Version of the Perceived Stress Scale
Student Hunger on Campus
Development and validation of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale
The Struggle Is Real
The Pittsburgh sleep quality index
Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among U.S. college students
Food Insecurity
Validity and reliability of an adapted arabic version of the long international physical activity questionnaire
Assessing the relationship between food insecurity and lifestyle behaviors among university students
Food insecurity, psychosocial health and academic performance among college and university students in Georgia, USA
Validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale in rural Lebanon
Orthorexia nervosa
Orthorexia nervosa
Physical and mental health outcomes associated with prior food insecurity among young adults
Understanding Food Insecurity Among College Students
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |