A comparative study of orthorexia between premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women

Abstract

Purpose: Studies suggested that menopause is a period of vulnerability for disordered eating behaviors, but whether menopause could be linked to orthorexia nervosa (ON) remains unexplored.

Methods: A sample composed of 709 women aged between 30 and 71 years (mean age = 43.08 years, SD = 9.24) answered self-administered questionnaires assessing ON (Düsseldorfer Orthorexia Skala, DOS), body image, self-esteem, and psychopathological symptoms. The sample included a Premenopause group of 441 women reporting regular menses, a Perimenopause group of 94 women reporting the recent onset of amenorrhea or menstrual irregularities, and a Postmenopause group of 174 women reporting amenorrhea of natural onset for more than 12 months.

Results: Group comparison using analysis of covariance with age as covariate showed that ON scores were statistically higher in the two groups of participants dealing with menopause (Peri- and Postmenopause) when compared with women not yet concerned by menopause (Premenopause). A Kendall's tau-b correlation performed between the menopausal status (Pre, Peri, or Postmenopause) and DOS categories (No ON; At risk of ON; Presence of ON) showed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between the menopausal group and DOS categories (tau-b = 0.136, p < 0.001). In addition, Fisher's exact tests indicated that the percentages of participants in the "At risk of ON" and "Presence of ON" categories were statistically higher in the Postmenopause group in comparison with the Premenopause group (p < 0.001). Depressive symptoms were statistically higher in the Peri- and Post-groups, while anxiety symptoms were stronger in the Peri-group when compared with the Pre-group.

Conclusions: This study shows an increase of ON in women concerned with menopause, suggesting the existence of a relationship between menopause and ON. Further studies are necessary to identify factors involved in this association.

Level of evidence: Descriptive (cross-sectional) study, level V.

Keywords: Body image; Menopause; Orthorexia nervosa; Psychopathology; Self-esteem.