The effect of social media usage on food consumption, foodchoice and tendency to orthorexia nervosa amonghousewives

This study aimed to investigate the effects of social media platforms which have increasingly influenced all areas of life in recent years and whose usage frequency has significantly risen on housewives' food consumption, food choices, and Orthorexia Nervosa (ON). The study was conducted on a total of 110 housewives residing in the Alpaslan neighborhood of Kayseri province, with a mean age of 41.65±11.67 years and a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.96±4.62 kg/m². Sociodemographic and anthropometric data, questions related to social media use, dietary history, and 24-hour dietary recall were collected using a personal information form developed by the researcher. The personal information form, the ORTO-11 scale, the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), and the Social Media Use Scale (SMUS) were administered face-to-face by the researcher. The daily energy and nutrient intakes of the study group were compared with the reference values provided in the Turkey Nutrition Guide (TÜBER-2022). The mean ORTO-11 score was found to be 25.93±3.94, and 67.3% of the participants exhibited orthorexic tendencies. The average daily duration of social media use was 1.97±0.76 hours, with 70% (n=77) falling into the 2–3 hours/day (moderate) usage category. The average level of social media use was determined as 26.42±4.92 (high). However, no significant association was found between social media usage level and ORTO-11 scores. In addition, housewives who paid attention to consuming foods that are "natural/organic" had significantly higher ORTO-11 scores compared to those who did not (p<0.001). Among the factors influencing food choices, "Sensory Appeal" and "Natural Content" were found to be the most influential, whereas "Ethical Concern" was the least influential factor. A weak negative statistically significant relationship was found between the daily duration of social media use and the "Natural Content" (p<0.05) and "Weight Control" (p<0.01) subscales of the FCQ. The mean total score of the Social Media Use Scale (SMUS) among housewives was 23.39±8.00, while the means for the "Continuity" and "Competence" subscales were 12.26±4.15 and 11.13±4.42, respectively. It was found that more than half of the housewives (58.2%) used social media at a moderate level (score: 19–29). Significant correlations were observed between the total SMUS score, its "Continuity" and "Competence" subscales, and variables such as age and daily social media usage time. However, no significant relationships were found between orthorexic tendencies and variables such as multivitamin use, meal skipping, satisfaction with body weight, or fear of gaining weight. In conclusion, while social media use did not directly affect orthorexic tendencies, it was found to have an impact on food selection and consumption. To better understand the relationship between social media use and orthorexic tendencies, further studies that assess a wider range of individual habits are required. Keywords: Social Media, Food Choice, Orthorexia Nervosa.