Prevalence and correlates of sub-threshold disordered eating behavior in the Healthy Living Blog community

Background: Many eating behaviors presented on health-oriented blogs fall along the disordered eating continuum. Disordered eating’s high rate of morbidity and the likelihood of dieting behaviors leading to more severe eating disorders make the sub-threshold eating disorder pathology of blog users worthy of scientific investigation. The increasing use of social media, which combines the most impactful norms for eating behavior—mass media, peers, and family—has the potential of normalizing disordered behaviors, and is, therefore, of immediate public health concern. Purpose: This study examined the relationships between health-oriented blogging and eating behaviors, specifically those behaviors related to orthorexia, a proposed eating disorder defined as an obsession with healthy eating and generally associated with populations highly knowledgeable about nutrition and health. Methods:  152 members of the Healthy Living Blog community (98% female), a self-defined, online network focused on food, fitness, and health,  completed an internet survey adapted from the ORTO-15 (Donini, et al., 2005) measure of orthorexia. Additional questions related specifically to blogging, social media use, and their influence on food choice and eating behaviors. Results: Initial statistical analyses reveal heightened attention to the health qualities of food among this internet-based community. Results show statistically significant relationships between health-oriented social media use and influence, orthorexic attitudes, and restrictive eating behaviors. Conclusions:  The more time spent involved in the Healthy Living Blog community, the greater the influence on eating behavior. Women strongly influenced by health-focused social media are more likely to derive feelings of control and increased self-esteem from making healthy food choices. Supposedly healthy behaviors may, however, verge on disordered.