Comparison of habitual runners and anorexia nervosa patients

Psychological and physiological similarities have been proposed between habitual runners and anorexia nervosa patients.

Twenty male runners, 20 female runners, and 17 anorexia nervosa patients were evaluated using several psychological measures (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Leyton Obsessional Inventory, and three measures of body image) and physiological measures (physical examination, anthropometric assessment, and exercise treadmill tests).

Anorexia nervosa patients had significantly more evidence of psychopathology on all the psychological measures than either group of runners. There were suggestive similarities between female runners and anorexics on some of the body image tests. Fat content was in the normal range for both groups of runners and low in the anorexia nervosa group. Abnormalities were seen on the treadmill tests in all three groups, but there were no statistically significant differences.

Despite hypothetical similarities, this study found that anorexia nervosa patients and habitual runners have few similar psychological or physiological features.