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Aim: With the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease and the anxiety caused by the disease, individuals have started to show more interest in healthy nutrition. In this study, it was aimed to determine the anxiety levels of individuals affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and to evaluate the relationship between the presence of anxiety and orthorexia nervosa.
Method: This cross-sectional study was completed with an online questionnaire with 189 female and 147 male volunteers with a mean age of 34,50 ± 6,50 and 38,50 ± 11,50 respectively. While evaluating the anthropometric measurements and some socio-demographic characteristics of the individuals in the questionnaire; pandemic-induced anxiety with Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), general anxiety with Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and orthorexic tendencies of the individuals with ORTO-15 scale. Research data were analyzed with SPSS 24.0 program.
Results: When the total population was evaluated, the averages of the scales were 1,13 ± 2,42 for CAS and 7,60 ± 9,87 for BAI, respectively. The mean ORTO-15 score is 37,44 ± 3,85. No correlation was found between the scale averages. However, a significant correlation was found between the BMI classification groups and the mean ORTO-15 score in women (p<0,005). There was no relationship between variables such as the gender of the participants, the use of nutritional supplements before/after the pandemic, and the scale scores. However, a significant relationship was found between the disease states and each scale score, according to the statements of the participants (p<0,005).
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic, the fear of getting sick, and the measures taken due to the pandemic and the changing living conditions may lead to increased anxiety in people. The presence of anxiety affects people's lives negatively by causing an increase in orthorexic behaviors. Today, there is a need for comprehensive studies investigating the psycho-social effects of the pandemic.