Orthorexic Tendencies Among Croatian Athletes: Linking Perfectionism, Motivation, and Body Image to Disordered Eating

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is an obsession with healthy eating, characterized by compulsive behavior and a preoccupation with strict dietary rules aimed at achieving optimal health. This study investigated the relationship between ON, perfectionism, exercise addiction, exercise motives, and body esteem in recreational and registered athletes. Participants were 376 athletes aged 15–69 years ( M = 33.74, SD = 11.84), including 140 registered athletes (63 women) and 236 recreational exercisers (148 women). Results showed that registered athletes displayed stronger tendencies toward ON compared with recreational exercisers. Athletes in ball sports were also more prone to ON than those practicing activities such as yoga or Pilates. ON symptoms were predicted by body mass index, perfectionism, and exercise addiction, while exercise motivation and athlete status were not significant predictors. These findings have direct implications for the early identification and prevention of disordered eating in athletes.