Perfectionistic self-presentation and orthorexia in exercisers
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Updated: Oct 30, 2025

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
Verity B Pratt1, Daniel J Madigan2, Andrew P Hill1
1School of Science, Technology, and Health, York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, York, UK.
Purpose:
The present study aimed to provide the first examination of whether perfectionistic self-presentation-an interpersonal expression of perfectionism-is related to orthorexia.
Methods:
We recruited a sample of 150 exercisers (Mean age = 27.7 years). Participants completed the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale and the ORTO-15 on a single occasion.
Results:
Two dimensions of perfectionistic self-presentation-perfectionistic self-promotion and nondisplay of imperfection-showed significant positive correlations with orthorexia. In addition, in multiple regression analyses controlling for the overlap between dimensions, perfectionistic self-promotion emerged as the strongest and only significant predictor of orthorexia.
Conclusion:
Perfectionistic self-presentation is positively associated with orthorexia in exercisers. Perfectionistic self-promotion-a need to portray an image of perfection to others-is primarily responsible for this relationship.
Level Of Evidence:
Cross-sectional study, Level V.
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