Orthorexic Eating Tendencies and Body Shape Concern in Women with Lipedema: A Controlled Cross-Sectional Study
- 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Liv Hospital Vadistanbul, 34475 Istanbul, Türkiye
- 2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Medipol University, 34230 Istanbul, Türkiye
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Lipedema is an adipose tissue disorder associated with body-related burden. This study compared orthorexic eating tendencies between women with and without lipedema and examined associations with body-shape concern and psychological symptoms. Methods: This controlled cross-sectional study included 44 women with lipedema and 44 women without lipedema. Participants completed the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Associated variables were examined using multiple linear regression. Results: Women with lipedema had higher DOS scores than women without lipedema (25.07 ± 6.55 vs. 20.48 ± 5.05; Cohen’s d = 0.79; p < 0.001). BSQ, HADS-Anxiety, and HADS-Depression scores were also higher in the lipedema group (all p ≤ 0.001). DOS and BSQ scores were positively correlated in both groups. In the multivariable model, which included group status, age, BMI, BSQ, HADS-A, and HADS-D scores, BSQ score was independently associated with DOS score (B = 0.067; 95% CI 0.025–0.108; p = 0.002), whereas group status and the other covariates were not. The model’s adjusted R2 was 0.234. Conclusions: Women with lipedema exhibited greater orthorexic eating tendencies, body-shape concern, and psychological symptoms than controls. Body-shape concern was independently associated with orthorexic eating tendencies. The group difference in DOS scores is largely explained by the higher BSQ scores accompanying lipedema; this should not be interpreted as indicating that lipedema is unrelated to orthorexic tendencies. These findings support consideration of body image when addressing eating behavior in lipedema care.
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BibTeX
@article{doran2026orthorexic,
title = {{Orthorexic Eating Tendencies and Body Shape Concern in Women with Lipedema: A Controlled Cross-Sectional Study}},
author = {Muhsin Doran and Dilara Ekici Zincirci and Ece Güreli Şahan},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15197678},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13665791},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Orthorexic Eating Tendencies and Body Shape Concern in Women with Lipedema: A Controlled Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Muhsin Doran
AU - Dilara Ekici Zincirci
AU - Ece Güreli Şahan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Journal of clinical medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15197678
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13665791
AB - Background/Objectives: Lipedema is an adipose tissue disorder associated with body-related burden. This study compared orthorexic eating tendencies between women with and without lipedema and examined associations with body-shape concern and psychological symptoms. Methods: This controlled cross-sectional study included 44 women with lipedema and 44 women without lipedema. Participants completed the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Associated variables were examined using multiple linear regression. Results: Women with lipedema had higher DOS scores than women without lipedema (25.07 ± 6.55 vs. 20.48 ± 5.05; Cohen’s d = 0.79; p < 0.001). BSQ, HADS-Anxiety, and HADS-Depression scores were also higher in the lipedema group (all p ≤ 0.001). DOS and BSQ scores were positively correlated in both groups. In the multivariable model, which included group status, age, BMI, BSQ, HADS-A, and HADS-D scores, BSQ score was independently associated with DOS score (B = 0.067; 95% CI 0.025–0.108; p = 0.002), whereas group status and the other covariates were not. The model’s adjusted R2 was 0.234. Conclusions: Women with lipedema exhibited greater orthorexic eating tendencies, body-shape concern, and psychological symptoms than controls. Body-shape concern was independently associated with orthorexic eating tendencies. The group difference in DOS scores is largely explained by the higher BSQ scores accompanying lipedema; this should not be interpreted as indicating that lipedema is unrelated to orthorexic tendencies. These findings support consideration of body image when addressing eating behavior in lipedema care.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -