Purpose: We present pilot, cross-sectional online survey data of health professionals in Australia and New Zealand about their attitudes towards orthorexia nervosa (ON), the proposed health food eating disorder. Our primary outcome was whether the professionals believed that ON should be a distinct, clinically recognised eating disorder.
Methods: Fifty-two health professionals, predominantly psychologists and dietitians, completed the survey.
Results: Nearly, three-quarters of respondents (71%) believed that ON should be a distinct, clinically recognised eating disorder.
Conclusions: This finding should be extended in a full study to inform future iterations of diagnostic manuals and the recognition and treatment of obsessively healthy eating.
Level of evidence: Level V, descriptive study of opinions of health professionals.
Keywords: Diagnosis; Feeding and eating disorders; Orthorexia nervosa; Professional practice.