The relationship between mindful eating, intuitive eating and orthorexia nervosa in adult individuals

Aims: This research sought to explore mindful eating, intuitive eating and orthorexia nervosa relationship among adult individuals. Methods: Two hundred and seventy individuals working in a hospital (165 healthcare workers and 105 administrative staff) joined this cross-sectional research carried out between July and August 2023. The researcher collected the data from the participants in person. A descriptive facts form about participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements, the Intuitive Eating Scale, the Orthorexia Nervosa Scale, and the Mindful Eating Questionnaire were utilized to gather data. Results: Participants’ mean age was 35.27±10.22 years. Participants body mass index distribution was 4.4%, underweight; 52.2%, normal weight; 28.1%, overweight; 11.9%, first-degree obesity; 2.2% (six participants), second-degree obesity, and 1.1% (three participants), severe obesity. The mean Orthorexia Nervosa Scale total score had a positive, very weak association with the average values of emotional eating sub-domain (r: .233, p = .000) and a very weak and negative association with conscious eating sub-domain (r:-.122, p = .046) of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire. The mean scores on the total Orthorexia Nervosa and Intuitive Eating Scales had a very weak and statistically meaningful positive association (r: .175, p = .004). The mean Mindful Eating and the Intuitive Eating measure figures showed a statistically meaningful, low-level, and positive association (r: .480, p = .000). Conclusion: As tendency to orthorexia increased, their intuitive eating and emotional eating, a sub-domain under the mindful eating measure, decreased. Additionally, it was discovered that mindful eating rose in parallel with intuitive eating. The development and application of mindful and intuitive eating techniques in conjunction and doing more extensive research on the topic are crucial in the treatment of eating disorders like orthorexia nervosa.