Effect Of Weight Training On Risk For Disordered Eating Among Weight-preoccupied College Women

Abstract

PURPOSE Disordered eating (DE) behavior is estimated to affect half of young women and can impair daily functioning, cause distress, and compromise health. Weight training (WT) has been shown to improve body image among young adults, however this effect has not been investigated in weight-preoccupied women. Our aim was to determine the effect of engaging in WT in women screened for weight preoccupation on feelings and attitudes about the self that are related to risk for disordered eating behavior. METHODS Subjects consisted of college age women who met the criteria of no regular WT within the last 12 mths and increased preoccupation with body weight. The first 2 wks of class were devoted to collecting baseline data, providing instruction on proper lifting technique, and the benefits of increasing muscular strength on non-weight related health issues. At no time were body image or weight-related issues discussed. The 8-week, progressive WT program consisted of 7 exercises targeting all major muscle groups. Subjects completed the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), body contour drawing scale, Self Concept Clarity (SCC) scale and Self-Esteem Scale (SES) before and after the program. RESULTS WT significantly increased 1RM strength (bench press, p<0.001; leg press, p=0.001). Baseline EDI drive for thinness (DT) scores were higher (11.2+/−3.8) than average for healthy female college students (median of 4–5). DT decreased with WT (6.3+/−5.6; p=0.058) as did other EDI subscores, but our analyses were limited by the low sample size for this survey (n=4). Results from the body contour drawing scale indicate WT improved body image. The difference between body sizes chosen to depict “how you ideally want to look” and “how you feel you currently look” decreased significantly (p=0.003) indicating that perceived appearance more closely resembled desired appearance. This was due to a significant decrease in perceived actual size (p=0.03) and not due to changes in desired body size (p=0.235). This is surprising given the significant increase in body weight that occurred (p<0.001). SCC and SES scores increased although not significantly. CONCLUSIONS The results from this pilot study suggest that engaging in WT may be an effective strategy for decreasing risk of disordered eating among young women who display heightened concerns about body weight and size. These findings are currently being confirmed in a larger sample, yet our preliminary results are significant in light of the fact that information-based programs have proven ineffective at addressing eating-related problems on college campuses and evidence suggests they can generate unintended negative consequences.