Adherence to the Mediterranean diet, orthorexia and use of supplements in a population of university students practicing sports

A varied and balanced diet is the basis of a healthy life. The classic Mediterranean diet guarantees positive effects on health. In recent years, especially within the sports environment, orthorexia has spread, a psychological obsession often based on stereotyped or incorrect nutritional beliefs, which implies concern and fixation on healthy eating. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet, prevalence of orthorexia nervosa, perception of body image, and use/abuse of supplements in relation to the indications on the label, in a population of Italian university students practicing sports. The sample is made up of students from La Sapienza University of Rome. Data was collected through standardized questionnaires. 29% of the sample (58% M and 42% F) has showed a low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, while 68% and 3% presented a medium and high adherence, respectively. 79% of subjects had orthorexic symptoms, 68% of the sample presented no risk of eating disorders, 29% had low risk, while only 3% presented a high risk. 37,5% of the men and 25% of the women used supplements, and 33,3% of the women used them for food allergies to nickel. The categories of supplements most used, by both men and women, are sports and vitamin supplements. Food supplement was not necessarily considered as a "healthy" product by subjects with orthorexic symptoms, and 80% of these used it as a dietary supplement respecting the information on the label. The high prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in university students who practice sports suggests further investigating this phenomenon.