OBJECTIVE: Despite the well-established health benefits of physical activity, the role of exercise for eating disorders (ED) is controversial; thus dictating a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of exercise and ED. The purpose of our study was to examine a conceptual model that hypothesizes regular exercise without psychological compulsion might impart beneficial effects for preventing and treating ED. METHOD: University students (N = 539) completed self-report assessments of quality of life, exercise level, ED risk and exercise dependence symptoms. Structural equation modelling analysis was undertaken to examine the conceptual model's proposed relationships. RESULTS: Mediation analysis and model comparison tests showed that the partially mediated model without the physical well-being latent construct fit the data best. DISCUSSION: Our results provided initial support for the conceptual model by showing that the psychological benefits, but not the physical benefits, conveyed by exercise were associated with reduced ED risk.
OBJECTIVE: Despite the well-established health benefits of physical activity, the role of exercise for eating disorders (ED) is controversial; thus dictating a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of exercise and ED. The purpose of our study was to examine a conceptual model that hypothesizes regular exercise without psychological compulsion might impart beneficial effects for preventing and treating ED. METHOD: University students (N = 539) completed self-report assessments of quality of life, exercise level, ED risk and exercise dependence symptoms. Structural equation modelling analysis was undertaken to examine the conceptual model's proposed relationships. RESULTS: Mediation analysis and model comparison tests showed that the partially mediated model without the physical well-being latent construct fit the data best. DISCUSSION: Our results provided initial support for the conceptual model by showing that the psychological benefits, but not the physical benefits, conveyed by exercise were associated with reduced ED risk.
Authors: Brian J Cook; Stephen A Wonderlich; James E Mitchell; Ron Thompson; Roberta Sherman; Kimberli McCallum Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2016-07 Impact factor: 5.411
Authors: Anna M Bardone-Cone; M K Higgins; Sara M St George; Ilyssa Rosenzweig; Lauren M Schaefer; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Taylor M Henning; Brittany F Preston Journal: Eat Disord Date: 2016-07-27 Impact factor: 3.222