The Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Eating Behavior Training on Eating Attitudes

The Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Eating Behavior Training on Eating Attitudes in Individuals With Orthorexic Tendencies: A Randomized Controlled Study

In recent years, the increasing interest in healthy eating and access to "pure" foods has led to the widespread adoption of selective and control-oriented eating attitudes. In some individuals, this situation has contributed to an increase in tendencies toward Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), in which the pursuit of healthy eating takes on a pathological dimension. ON is characterized by perfectionism related to healthy eating, intense anxiety, cognitive rigidity, and, over time, the development of guilt, avoidance behaviors, and social restriction. The promotion of such behaviors through media and social media further hinders the recognition of ON and facilitates its hidden spread. The concept of mindfulness, which has gained prominence in recent years, aims to help individuals observe bodily sensations, emotional responses, and thoughts that arise during the eating process with a nonjudgmental awareness. In the literature, the relationship between ON and mindfulness has mostly been examined through cross-sectional studies, while intervention-based studies targeting orthorexic individuals remain limited. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based eating behavior training program developed for orthorexic individuals on eating attitudes. The study will be conducted using a randomized controlled experimental design within the framework of an original program developed with contributions from expert researchers in the fields of psychology and nutrition. The effects of the training program applied to the intervention group will be evaluated comparatively with those of the control group. Data obtained from the study will be analyzed using SPSS, RStudio, and JASP software packages. The distributional properties of the variables will be examined using visual and analytical methods. Group comparisons, changes over time, and group-by-time interaction effects will be analyzed using appropriate parametric and nonparametric statistical methods, and the level of statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults with the cognitive capacity to understand the online questionnaires and the training program
• Access to the internet
• Score 30 or higher on the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS)

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of any neuropsychiatric disorder
• Diagnosed eating disorder
• Current participation in a mindfulness-based intervention
• Score below 30 on the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS)