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The Barcelona Orthorexia Scale (BOS): development process using the Delphi method

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Orthorexia nervosa is a currently investigated eating disorder proposed by US physician Steve Bratman, defined as pathological fixation on eating healthy food. This study aimed to develop, by consensus of experts, the basic items for a new questionnaire to evaluate some defining psychological features of orthorexia nervosa in English and Spanish language, the so-called Barcelona Orthorexia Scale (BOS).

Methods

The initial item pool was composed of 105 items divided into six different content areas. To analyse the content of the items, a three-round Delphi study was developed, in which participants had to evaluate the representativeness and clarity of each item. Participants were chosen because of their knowledge on orthorexia and/or eating disorders.

Results

58 experts, from 17 different countries, participated in the initial round and 30 in the last round. Items were added, rephrased, changed into another content area, modified or eliminated according to the participants’ suggestions, partly due to the group’s response, analysed statistically, and partly due to participants’ recommendations.

Conclusions

64 items were obtained, with two versions in Spanish and English. The future BOS aims to provide a possible solution to the shortage of valid instruments to evaluate psychological features of orthorexia and to promote research on this field. Further analysis regarding validity and reliability is necessary to prove the BOS’ value on this matter.

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Notes

  1. The BOS, in its English version, is part of the supplemental material.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the experts participating in this study. Participants appear in alphabetical order (only those who agreed to publish their name): Aksoydan, E. (Turkey); Alvarenga, M. (Brasil); Barthels, F. (Germany); Bratman, S. (USA); Brytek-Matera, A. (Poland); Burnell, J. (USA); Canalda, G. (Spain); Cerniglia Utiu, L. (Italy); Clifford, D. (USA); Díaz-Tendero, D. (Chile); Duarte, C. (Portugal); Fidan, T. (Turkey); Flores Robaina, N. E. (Spain); García Dantas, A. (Spain); Håman, L. (Sweden); Herrin, M. (USA); Kachani, A. (Brasil); Lagos Hernandez, R. I. (Chile); López Medina, Mª. D. (Spain); Meule, (A) (Austria); Murawski, (B) M. (Argentina); Pérez, (C) (Chile); Ruiz, I. (Spain); Sánchez Carracedo, (D) (Spain); Setnick, J. (USA); Shin, J. (Republic of Korea); Ströbele-Benschop, N. (Germany); Torres, I. (Spain); Trujano, P. (México.) We apologize to all the experts who were not invited, having desired to participate in the study if they had known it. We had knowledge of them when already had finished the first round or the study had ended.

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Author notes

  1. Carmina Saldaña

    Present address: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat de Barcelona, P. Vall d’Hebron, 171, 08035, Barcelona, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat de Barcelona, P. Vall d’Hebron, 171, 08035, Barcelona, Spain

    Stefan M. Bauer & Adela Fusté

  2. Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, C/ Císter, 34, 08022, Barcelona, Spain

    Ana Andrés

  3. Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron, 171, 08035, Barcelona, Spain

    Carmina Saldaña

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  1. Stefan M. Bauer
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Correspondence to Carmina Saldaña.

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This article is part of topical collection on Orthorexia Nervosa.

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Bauer, S.M., Fusté, A., Andrés, A. et al. The Barcelona Orthorexia Scale (BOS): development process using the Delphi method. Eat Weight Disord 24, 247–255 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0556-4

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