Understanding perceived characteristics and causes of orthorexia nervosa in online communities—A Reddit analysis

The present study analysed individual experiences of orthorexia nervosa (ON), a term commonly associated with obsessive health behaviors. With no universal definition available in research or practice, this aimed to analyse six months publicly Reddit data identify common characteristics and perceived causes ON as reported eating disorder- (ED) diet-related subreddits. A Python code was used extract comments from archive. To explore themes for each category subreddit, text-mining approach combined thematic analysis within social constructionist framework. In both subreddit categories, the manifestation conceptualized context shifting ED expressions perception food threat well pursuit superiority. ED-subreddits, commenters discussed safety mechanism anxieties, role body visualising ON, ON’s proactive selfcare culture. Diet-related encompassed conceptualization perfectionism, underlying mental concerns, pathology result problematic norms. 246 online revealed wide scope conceptualizations highlighted need coherent diagnostic model which takes into account sociocultural factors.