Background/Objectives: Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is an emerging behavioral pattern characterized by an obsessive focus on healthy eating. Despite its prevalence, ON lacks formal diagnostic criteria in major classification systems like the DSM-5 and the ICD-10. This study aims to investigate the impact of socio-cultural attitudes towards body image and the role of social media on the risk of ON among female football players from Poland, Turkey, and India. This study hypothesizes that socio-cultural pressures and media usage significantly influence the risk of developing ON, particularly in cultures more exposed to Western beauty ideals. Methods: The study was conducted from May to August 2024, employing the Computer-Assisted Web Interview method. A total of 142 female football players aged 16–36 from Poland, Turkey, and India participated. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included demographic information and health metrics, the Socio-Cultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire, and the Duesseldorf Orthorexia Scale. Statistical analyses included an ANOVA, the Kruskal–Wallis test, the chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: The study found that nearly half of the participants were at risk of or presented with ON, with the highest prevalence being among Indian athletes. Statistically significant relationships were observed between the risk of ON and factors such as age, dietary exclusions, social media usage, and sources of nutritional information. However, no significant correlation was found between socio-cultural attitudes and the risk of ON, suggesting that other factors may play a more critical role. Conclusions: While socio-cultural pressures and media use are contributing factors to the risk of ON, psychological factors and individual behaviors appear to be equally, if not more, significant. This study highlights the importance of targeted educational programs and psychological support for young athletes, with a focus on promoting healthy dietary practices and positive body image perceptions across varying cultural contexts. Additionally, the results suggest the need for further research into the specific psychological and behavioral mechanisms underlying ON.

Background Mental health challenges, including anxiety, stress, depression, sleep disturbance and cognitive deficits, are prevalent among athletes due to continuous overtraining or field stress. Pearl millet is a nutrient-dense grain rich in lipids, iron, dietary fibre, and B vitamins and has potential benefits for mental well-being and improved cognitive function. Hence, the present randomised controlled trial aimed to study the effects of pearl millet diet on serum micronutrient status, mental health (anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance and disordered eating behaviour) and meta-cognitive skills in athletes. Methods Male athletes (n = 60) aged 18–25 years were randomly allocated to experimental (EG) or control (CG) groups. The EG was provided with 1/3 of a pearl millet diet in lieu of regular cereals (wheat/rice) for 60 days, and the CG continued with a regular diet. Pre- and post-test blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis (haemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin, folate and vitamin-B12); mental health and meta-cognitive skills were determined via the SMHAT-1 and MCSS, respectively. The effects of the pearl millet diet on the study outcomes were determined via paired and independent sample t tests. Results Compared with the CG, the EG significantly decreased (p = 0.014) disordered eating behaviour and significantly improved meta-cognitive skills in planning (p < 0.046), monitoring (p < 0.041), evaluation (p = 0.024) and total MCSS (p = 0.020). Hb (p = 0.016) and serum vitamin B-12 significantly (p = 0.052) increased in the EG, but the mean difference between the EG and CG was significant for folate (p = 0.031) and Hb (p = 0.003). Conclusion Pearl millet diet decreases the risk of disordered eating, and improves meta-cognitive skills and haemoglobin, micronutrient status in terms of folate and vitamin B-12 in athletes.