Background: The increasing focus on healthy eating and achieving an ideal physique can lead to the development of disordered eating patterns, including orthorexia nervosa. The relationship between body image perception, self-esteem, and the risk of orthorexia nervosa is multifaceted, with negative body image and low self-esteem often acting as contributing factors. This study aimed to assess the risk of orthorexia nervosa and analyze body image perception among women engaged in strength training and dietetics students. Methods: The study was conducted using a Computer-Assisted Web Interview with 190 women aged 18 and older, divided into four groups: dietetics students engaged in strength training, dietetics students not engaged in strength training, non-dietetics women engaged in strength training, and non-dietetics women not engaged in strength training. The study utilized the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale to assess the risk of orthorexia nervosa and the Body-Esteem Scale to evaluate body image perception. Results: The highest orthorexia nervosa risk was observed in dietetics students who do not engage in a strength training group (60.9%), followed by dietetics students who engage in a strength training group (37.5%). In contrast, women who are not studying dietetics and do not engage in a strength training group exhibited the lowest orthorexia nervosa risk (13%), emphasizing the protective role of physical activity and reduced focus on nutritional rigidity. Regression analysis revealed that low appearance self-esteem (p = 0.011) and high social attribution (p = 0.043) significantly predicted higher orthorexia nervosa risk. Group affiliation also influenced orthorexia nervosa risk, with dietetics students showing higher Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale scores. However, weight-related self-esteem (p = 0.082) did not significantly impact orthorexia nervosa scores. Conclusions: Dietetics education and physical activity independently and collectively affect orthorexia nervosa risk. Students in dietetics, particularly those not engaged in strength training, are at a higher risk due to the dual influence of academic pressures and heightened nutritional awareness. The findings underscore the need for interventions targeting body image perception, promoting flexible dietary approaches, and addressing external validation pressures to mitigate orthorexia nervosa risk in high-risk groups.

Background: The prevalence of disordered eating behaviors and body image disturbances among athletes in weight-category sports remains insufficiently explored, especially in combat disciplines such as contact karate. The present study aimed to assess the risk of eating disorders and body image perception among elite Polish contact karate athletes, considering the influence of competitive pressure, weight-category requirements, and body image ideals on nutritional behaviors and mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study involved 55 elite contact karate athletes, all with at least one medal at the Polish Championships or higher level competitions. Data were collected using a computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) and validated tools: the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS-PL), and the Body Esteem Scale (BES). Results: Applying all three EAT-26 referral criteria, 58.12% of athletes threshold indicating potential eating-disorder risk; 12.73% screened positive on the EAT-26 symptom score (Part A), which evaluates attitudes toward eating and dieting behaviors, reflecting one’s relationship with food. On DOS-PL, 10.9% met the orthorexia cut-off and a further 20% were at elevated risk. Weight-making behaviors were common 47.47% reported cutting weight, typically ~4.6% body mass per event. Sex differences emerged: women scored higher on EAT-26 Part A ( p = 0.021) and reported lower body-esteem in sexual attractiveness and weight control, whereas men most often reported medium physical attractiveness with frequent low ratings for upper-body strength/physical condition. In women, higher body-esteem correlated with lower EAT-26 totals, and EAT-26 correlated positively with DOS-PL ( r = 0.367, p = 0.036); these associations were not observed in men. Conclusion: The finding that over half of elite contact karate athletes exhibit risk indicators for eating disorders highlights the urgent need for systematic screening and intervention in weight-category sports. Prevention programs should integrate nutritional education, mental health support, and early identification strategies to protect both performance and long term health.

Background: Rapid weight loss (RWL) is a widespread practice among judo athletes seeking to compete in lower weight categories. Restrictive nutritional and behavioral strategies used to achieve short-term reductions in body mass may impair physiological and psychological functioning. This study aimed to assess dietary behaviors, weight-cutting methods, and short-term physical and psychological effects of RWL among competitive judo athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between August and December 2024 among 70 judo athletes (17 women, 53 men) competing at national and international levels. Data were collected using an author-designed questionnaire addressing anthropometric variables, training history, RWL strategies, dietary restrictions, hydration manipulation, and post-weigh-in eating behaviors. Physical and psychological symptoms were assessed using frequency-based self-report measures. Results: Most athletes (95.7%) reported engaging in RWL, typically beginning between ages 13 and 16 years (65.7%). Athletes reduced an average of 3.64 ± 1.74 kg (2–5% of body mass). Common strategies included decreasing meal frequency (74.29%), increasing training load (72.86%), restricting fluids (68.57%), and using saunas (62.86%). Reported physical symptoms included weakness (71.43%), headaches (51.43%), and dizziness (45.71%), while psychological symptoms included irritability (57.14%), reduced motivation (40%), and tension (38.57%). Post-weigh-in binge eating occurred in 65.71% of athletes and was significantly associated with higher RWL magnitude (p < 0.05). Discomfort during competition related to overeating (55.71%) or insufficient intake (41.43%) was also frequent. Conclusions: RWL is highly prevalent among judo athletes and often begins early in training history. The strategies used are associated with adverse physical and psychological symptoms and maladaptive compensatory behaviors. These findings highlight the need for evidence-based nutritional education and individualized weight-management approaches to support athlete health and performance.

Background/Objectives: Orthorexia nervosa and appearance-related pressures are increasingly discussed in youth sport, where performance demands may amplify perfectionistic tendencies and the internalization of cultural body ideals. This study examined how sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and perfectionism relate to orthorexic tendencies among adolescent football athletes. Methods: The study included players from a soccer school, with a final sample of 83 participants. All were Polish citizens aged 16–19. A cross-sectional design was used with standardized instruments: the Polish adaptation of the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS) to index symptoms of ON risk, the Sport Perfectionism Questionnaire (positive/negative perfectionism), and the SATAQ-3 subscales to assess sociocultural internalization/pressures and information exposure. Results: Across the entire sample (n = 73), most athletes were classified as having no risk of ON—60 people (82.2%), a smaller proportion showed an increased risk—10 people (13.7%), and symptoms of ON were found in 3 people (4.1%). In bivariate analyses, orthorexic tendencies co-occurred with perfectionism. In multivariate models, the addition of the perfectionism block provided a significant increase in explained variance over age, BMI, and sociocultural attitudes, while the SATAQ-3 block contributed only a small amount of additional variance in the presence of other predictors. Conclusions: Orthorexic risk is present but not widespread in adolescent football athletes. Perfectionistic tendencies emerge as salient psychosocial correlates of orthorexic symptoms, while sociocultural pressures appear relevant but partly overlapping and not uniquely predictive when modeled together.