Correspondence between alternate measures of maladaptive exercise, and their associations with disordered eating symptomatology

Abstract

Aims: The study sought to contribute to the measurement of maladaptive exercise by examining the psychometric properties of a variety of instruments and classification algorithms. The primary aim was to identify the items or scales necessary and sufficient to quantify the construct. A secondary aim was to comment on the construct validity of these measures by examining their relationships with disordered eating symptomatology. Methods: Questionnaire booklets comprising the Exercise Dependence Scale, the Obligatory Exercise Questionnaire, the Frequency, Intensity, Time Index, and the Eating Attitudes Test were distributed to women attending health and fitness centres. Self-reported age, height, current and desired weight, and length of time as a regular exerciser were also sought. Data were obtained from 302 regular exercisers. Results: While there were statistically significant associations among the measures, no two operationalised maladaptive exercise in the same manner. The Frequency-Intensity-Time Index (FIT) was found to be particularly poor. While variation in the size of relationships between maladaptive exercise and disordered eating was noted, all measures were strongly correlated with the exception of FIT, which demonstrated a modest correlation. Conclusions: Different conceptualisations of maladaptive exercise have led to alternative operational definitions, resulting in its classification being instrument dependent. Further exploration using samples with differing characteristics (e.g., high/low probability of dependence) may allow more specific recommendations to be made about the optimal measurement of maladaptive exercise. Further, the question of whether maladaptive exercise is more likely a cause or consequence of eating disorders remains.

Protective and Risk Factors in Exercise Addiction: A Series of Moderated Mediation Analyses

“…Therefore, this behaviour–reward association could lead to addiction to physical activity [ 5 , 60 ]. Furthermore, the scientific literature has consistently identified the thin ideal as a predictor of compulsive exercise pattern [ 61 ], as well as a reported significant correlation between concerns about weight gain and exercise addiction [ 29 ]. The data also demonstrated that the relationship between drive for thinness and exercise addiction was partially mediated by body image concerns (H 2 ).…”

“…Previous research has shown significant associations between drive for thinness with pathological exercise [ 28 ]. Indeed, drive for thinness indicates the tendency to desire (in an extreme way) to be thin and a fear of gaining weight, as well as attention and concerns about diet [ 26 , 27 ], and has consistently been found to be a significant predictor of exercise addiction in physical activities where weight loss is one of the primary goals [ 29 , 30 ]. Similarly, research has also focused on the effects of symptoms related to bulimia, defined by the presence of episodes in which large quantities of food are consumed in an uncontrolled way (bingeing), with consequent emotional agitation and psychological malaise [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Morbid exercise behaviour and eating disorders: A meta-analysis

“…On the one hand, it is possible that some of the participants belonging to the non-clinical subsamples included in the present analyses may qualify for a clinical diagnosis (Di Lodovico, Dubertret, & Ameller, 2018;Lease & Bond, 2013;Maraz, Urb an, Griffiths, & Demetrovics, 2015). On the other hand, the relationship of interest was examined within clinical samples in only six studies (Alexander, 2013;Bratland-Sanda et al, 2011;Formby, Watson, Hilyard, Martin, & Egan, 2014;Godier, 2015;Naylor, Mountford, & Brown, 2011;Sauchelli et al, 2016), of which four considered the CET for the assessment of MEB (Formby et al, 2014; Godier, 2015;Naylor et al, 2011;Sauchelli et al, 2016).…”

Habitual physical activity is associated with circulating irisin in healthy controls but not in subjects with diabetes mellitus type 2

“…Each subject's habitual physical activity was assessed based on a standardized questionnaire using FIT (frequency intensity time) index [30][31][32][33]. This index requires that points are allocated depending on the frequency, intensity and time spent performing physical activity per week.…”

“…The product of these three components (frequency, intensity and time) indicates the level of habitual physical activity. Thus, FIT index was calculated as follows: FIT index = (points for frequency)*(points for intensity)*(points for time) [30][31][32][33].…”