ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate recipients and donors undergoing organ transplantation in terms of orthorexia nervosa. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The population of the study consisted of individuals over the age of 18 who were donors or recipients undergoing organ transplantation at the Organ Transplantation Centre of Research-Application Hospital of Gaziantep University in Turkey (n=74). A questionnaire consisting of 3 parts was used as a data collection tool. While the first part includes questions that ask socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and constitute the independent variables of the study (21 questions), the second and third parts include the Orthorexia Nervosa-15 (ORTO-15) and the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-40), respectively. RESULTS: Based on the cut-off point of the ORTO-15 scale, it was determined that while 78.4% (n=58) of the participants were normal in terms of orthorexia nervosa, 21.6% (n=16) were orthorexic. In terms of the cut-off point of EAT-40, 37.8% (n=28) of the participants did not have an eating disorder and 62.2% (n=46) suffered from an eating disorder. The ORTO-15 mean ranks were high in those who were females (p=0.035), were suffering from chronic diseases (p=0.002), did not consume fast food (p=0.004), were making arrangements before eating their daily meals (p=0.018), and were doing regular physical activity (p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, it was determined that those who were females, were suffering from chronic diseases, were making arrangements before eating their daily meals and were doing regular physical activity showed a more orthorexic tendency. It is recommended for healthcare professionals to determine the orthorexic tendency level of patients, who are female, suffer from chronic diseases, adhere to a regular diet and do a regular physical activity, and evaluate the whole patient group in terms of eating disorders while healthcare professionals conduct early diagnosis screenings of the patients (recipient/donor) in the organ transplantation process or referring them.
