College students' perceptions of individuals following popular diets and individuals with Orthorexia Nervosa

• Published in: Eating behaviors : an international journal Vol. 47; p. 101671
• Main Authors: Weinstock, Madison, Mazzeo, Suzanne E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2022
• Subjects: Diet; Dieting; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Feeding Behavior; Female; Health Behavior; Healthy eating; Humans; Orthorexia Nervosa; Social perceptions; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Healthy eating; Dieting; Orthorexia nervosa; Social perceptions
• ISSN: 1471-0153; 1873-7358
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2022.101671

Dietary trends, such as “clean eating” and the ketogenic diet, are popular among young adults. However, very few studies have investigated perceptions of individuals who reportedly adhere to specific popular diets, despite research indicating that people ascribe more positive attributes to individuals described as healthy eaters. Given these diets' popularity, and the potential harm that comes from following them, it seems important to understand college students' perceptions of these eating patterns. This study investigated female undergraduates' (n = 463) perceptions of vignette characters described as adhering to specific dietary practices, including three popular diets (Clean Eating, Keto, and Intermittent Fasting), the rigid healthy eating pattern, Orthorexia nervosa (ON), and a nondieting control. Characters described as adhering to Clean Eating were viewed most positively, followed by individuals following the Ketogenic diet or nondieters. Characters following an Intermittent Fasting diet, and those with ON were viewed most negatively. Findings support the idea that perceptions of individuals are associated with their adherence to specific popular diets. Future research should investigate potential links among dieting behavior and impression management.
•Investigated how attitudes towards a person are influenced by their adherence to a diet.•Views towards a person are impacted by their dietary behavior.•Those on a Clean Eating were perceived most positively.•Those following an Intermittent Fasting pattern and those with Orthorexia Nervosa were perceived most negatively.