Abstract
Purpose
Dysfunctional exercise is a common, debilitating symptom across eating disorders (ED).
We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between experiences
of exercise and ED behaviors and cognitions in an adolescent, population-based sample.
Methods
Adolescents (n = 4,054) self-reported whether they exercised to control shape and
weight (exercise for weight loss [EWL]), and, if so, whether they exercised even when
injured, and whether exercise interfered with life functioning (driven exercise) at
age 14 years, allowing delineation of three exercise-based groups: no-EWL, EWL, and
driven exercise. Participants also reported ED cognitions at age 14 years along with
other ED behaviors (fasting, purging, binge eating) at ages 14 and 16 years. Sex-stratified
regression approaches were employed to examine relationships between these exercise
categories at age 14 and ED behaviors and cognitions at ages 14 and 16.
Results
Cross-sectionally, those in the driven exercise group, compared to the no-EWL group,
consistently reported higher levels of ED cognitions and behaviors, with those in
the EWL group also reporting higher levels of some ED cognitions and behaviors relative
to the no-EWL group. Those in the EWL and driven exercise groups at age 14 also demonstrated
a higher prospective likelihood of fasting (boys and girls) and purging (girls only)
at age 16, relative to those in the no-EWL group at age 14.
Discussion
Results inform our understanding of EWL and driven exercise and the developmental
timing of ED behaviors in adolescence and point toward the potential utility of targeted
prevention for young people who report EWL.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 25, 2022
Accepted:
November 13,
2021
Received:
July 23,
2021
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
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