Exercise behaviours and feelings in eating disorder and non-eating disorder groups

To compare exercise feelings and behaviours between female eating disorder (ED) (n = 287) and non-ED (n = 613) groups. To determine if exercise feelings and behaviours predict the presence of an ED.

Nine hundred females completed questions about their exercise behaviours and feelings.

Both groups did similar amounts and days of exercise; the ED group scored higher on all other exercise behaviours and feelings except feeling that exercise was important for mood, and for weight loss. Best predictors of an ED diagnosis (VE 15.2%) were; 'being annoyed if exercise interrupted' (OR: 1.49; 95% CI 1.04-2.15), 'others feeling you exercise a lot' (OR: 1.61; 95% CI 1.06-2.44), 'feeling bad if unable to exercise a certain amount' (OR: 1.53; 95% CI 1.34-1.74), 'feeling that you have/have had problems with exercise' (OR: 2.12; 95% CI 1.33-3.39).

Clinicians assessing eating disordered individuals should address specific exercise feelings, rather than exercise amount or frequency.