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Published on: August 22, 2014
"Exercise dependence"--a problem or natural result of high activity?
Suzanne Phelan1, Dale S Bond, Wei Lang
1Department of Kinesiology, California Polytechnic State University, CA, USA. sphelan@calpoly.edu
Weight-loss maintainers (WLM) exhibit higher physical activity (PA) and exercise dependence (ED) than normal-weight (NW) individuals. This increased dependence in WLM is primarily driven by exercising for weight control.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Exercise physiology
- Obesity research
Background:
- Maintaining weight loss is challenging and often requires significant lifestyle changes.
- Physical activity (PA) is a cornerstone of weight management, but its relationship with exercise dependence (ED) in weight-loss maintainers (WLM) is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare levels of physical activity (PA) and exercise dependence (ED) between individuals who have maintained weight loss (WLM) and normal-weight (NW) controls.
- To identify factors associated with exercise dependence in weight-loss maintainers.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 267 weight-loss maintainers (WLM) and 213 normal-weight (NW) individuals.
- Objective assessment of physical activity (PA) using accelerometry.
- Subjective assessment of exercise dependence (ED) via the Exercise Dependence Questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Weight-loss maintainers (WLM) demonstrated significantly higher physical activity (PA) levels and exercise dependence (ED) scores compared to normal-weight (NW) controls (P<0.0001).
- Both WLM status (P=0.006) and higher PA levels (P=0.0001) were independently associated with increased ED, with PA having a larger effect size.
- The domain of exercising for weight control was the most significant differentiator of ED between WLM and NW groups.
Conclusions:
- Weight-loss maintainers (WLM) report higher levels of exercise dependence (ED) than normal-weight (NW) individuals.
- The elevated exercise dependence in WLM is predominantly explained by the motivation of exercising for weight control, rather than general exercise addiction.
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