Orthorexia in Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Impact on Health, and Prevention Strategies
Aim: This review aims to explore the prevalence, causes, health impacts, and management strategies for orthorexia nervosa (ON) in athletes, with a focus on the challenges posed by the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria and the demands of sports that emphasize weight control, physique, and pe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Quality in Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/58323 |
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| author | Kamila Fuczyło Karolina Stankevič Anna-Mariia Chernysh Aleksandra Dusińska Jakub Waszczyński Justyna Woźniak Justyna Weronika Kmieć Wiktor Biesiada Ewelina Kopczyńska Piotr Kulej |
| author_facet | Kamila Fuczyło Karolina Stankevič Anna-Mariia Chernysh Aleksandra Dusińska Jakub Waszczyński Justyna Woźniak Justyna Weronika Kmieć Wiktor Biesiada Ewelina Kopczyńska Piotr Kulej |
| author_sort | Kamila Fuczyło |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Aim:
This review aims to explore the prevalence, causes, health impacts, and management strategies for orthorexia nervosa (ON) in athletes, with a focus on the challenges posed by the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria and the demands of sports that emphasize weight control, physique, and performance.
Materials and Methods:
The analysis is based on a synthesis of existing literature from medical and sports journals, focusing on studies that examine the relationship between ON and factors such as gender, BMI, athletic discipline, and the duration of physical activity. Special attention is given to studies evaluating multidisciplinary approaches to treatment and prevention.
Results:
Athletes, especially those in weight-sensitive and aesthetic sports, exhibit a higher prevalence of ON compared to non-athletes, with female athletes being particularly vulnerable. ON is driven by societal, cultural, and sports-specific pressures, leading to restrictive dietary practices that can cause nutrient deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, energy depletion, and psychological distress. Research findings on the relationship between ON, BMI, and gender are inconclusive, but athletes engaging in over 150 minutes of weekly physical activity, particularly endurance sports, are at higher risk.
Conclusions:
ON poses significant risks to both health and performance in athletes. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary treatment approach that integrates psychotherapy, dietary counseling, and nutritional education are critical for managing ON. Preventive measures at the organizational level, emphasizing balanced nutrition and collaboration among coaches, dietitians, psychologists, and physicians, are essential to reducing the prevalence of ON and promoting athlete well-being.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cef8915d36e24dfb9af55a317f059a00 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-cef8915d36e24dfb9af55a317f059a002025-02-12T08:26:11ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-02-013810.12775/QS.2025.38.58323Orthorexia in Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Impact on Health, and Prevention StrategiesKamila Fuczyłohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3443-8663Karolina Stankevič0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3572-1066Anna-Mariia Chernysh1https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6900-1593Aleksandra Dusińska 2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5197-9683Jakub Waszczyński3https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4156-2253Justyna Woźniak 4https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7785-4665Justyna Weronika Kmieć5https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0570-9575Wiktor Biesiada6https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2662-5300Ewelina Kopczyńska 7https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5665-6043Piotr Kulej8https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6655-6877Lower-Silesian Center of Oncology, Pulmonary and Hematology in Wrocław, pl. Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 WrocławRegional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław Research and Development Center, H. M. Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-124 Wrocław University Clinical Medical Hospital in Wrocław, Borowska 213, 50-556 WrocławPCK Marine Hospital in Gdynia, Powstania Styczniowego 1, 81-519 Gdynia Independent Public Healthcare Institution of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Kronikarza Galla 25, 30-053 Kraków Gromkowski Regional Specialist Hospital, Koszarowa 5, 51-149 Wrocław Gromkowski Regional Specialist Hospital, Koszarowa 5, 51-149 Wrocław Gromkowski Regional Specialist Hospital, Koszarowa 5, 51-149 Wrocław Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław Research and Development Center, H. M. Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-124 Wrocław Aim: This review aims to explore the prevalence, causes, health impacts, and management strategies for orthorexia nervosa (ON) in athletes, with a focus on the challenges posed by the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria and the demands of sports that emphasize weight control, physique, and performance. Materials and Methods: The analysis is based on a synthesis of existing literature from medical and sports journals, focusing on studies that examine the relationship between ON and factors such as gender, BMI, athletic discipline, and the duration of physical activity. Special attention is given to studies evaluating multidisciplinary approaches to treatment and prevention. Results: Athletes, especially those in weight-sensitive and aesthetic sports, exhibit a higher prevalence of ON compared to non-athletes, with female athletes being particularly vulnerable. ON is driven by societal, cultural, and sports-specific pressures, leading to restrictive dietary practices that can cause nutrient deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, energy depletion, and psychological distress. Research findings on the relationship between ON, BMI, and gender are inconclusive, but athletes engaging in over 150 minutes of weekly physical activity, particularly endurance sports, are at higher risk. Conclusions: ON poses significant risks to both health and performance in athletes. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary treatment approach that integrates psychotherapy, dietary counseling, and nutritional education are critical for managing ON. Preventive measures at the organizational level, emphasizing balanced nutrition and collaboration among coaches, dietitians, psychologists, and physicians, are essential to reducing the prevalence of ON and promoting athlete well-being. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/58323orthorexia nervosaeating disordersathleteathletes nutritiondietary interventionshealth |
| spellingShingle | Kamila Fuczyło Karolina Stankevič Anna-Mariia Chernysh Aleksandra Dusińska Jakub Waszczyński Justyna Woźniak Justyna Weronika Kmieć Wiktor Biesiada Ewelina Kopczyńska Piotr Kulej Orthorexia in Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Impact on Health, and Prevention Strategies Quality in Sport orthorexia nervosa eating disorders athlete athletes nutrition dietary interventions health |
| title | Orthorexia in Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Impact on Health, and Prevention Strategies |
| title_full | Orthorexia in Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Impact on Health, and Prevention Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Orthorexia in Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Impact on Health, and Prevention Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Orthorexia in Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Impact on Health, and Prevention Strategies |
| title_short | Orthorexia in Athletes: A Comprehensive Review of its Causes, Impact on Health, and Prevention Strategies |
| title_sort | orthorexia in athletes a comprehensive review of its causes impact on health and prevention strategies |
| topic | orthorexia nervosa eating disorders athlete athletes nutrition dietary interventions health |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/58323 |
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