Perceptions of Eating and Exercise Behaviors among College Students At-risk and Not At-risk for Orthorexia and Exercise Dependence

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between exercise dependence, orthorexia, and perceived health of behaviors among university students. Participants completed measures of exercise dependence, orthorexia and eating pathology. Participants indicated whether they perceived their eating and exercise behavior to be healthy. Logistic regression showed those at risk for orthorexia and exercise dependence were more likely to perceive their behaviors as healthy. The results demonstrate there may be limited awareness about how certain harmful, yet perceived as healthy, behaviors manifest, which has implications for health education, including focus on consequences of taking seemingly healthy behaviors to extremes.