<![CDATA[Background: Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is an eating disorder defined as an obsession with healthy eating. Medical students may be at increased risk due to increased nutritional knowledge. Methods: This cross-sectional study was completed between September 2024 until June 2025 at a university in Istanbul with 128 medical students. ON tendencies were assessed using the Test of Orthorexia Nervosa-17 (TON-17). Sociodemographic data, smoking status, history of chronic disease, and body mass index (BMI) were also assessed. Results: The mean total TON-17 score was 43.4 ± 8.9, placing the sample in the "at-risk" category. According to clinical cut-off values, 1,6% of students met the criteria for diagnostic ON. A significant negative correlation was identified between BMI and Focus on Healthy Eating (p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that non-smokers were 1.6 times more prone to developing a healthy eating obsession, whereas living with family served as a protective factor, reducing the risk by 1.6 times (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although the prevalence of diagnostic ON was low, medical students demonstrated subclinical orthorexic tendencies trends. These findings highlight the necessity of using psychometrically robust tools like TON-17 for accurate assessment and the potential need for targeted lifestyle counseling for high-risk student groups.]]>
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