RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BINGE EATING DISORDER AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN COMMUNITY DWELLING INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

Little is known about the relationships between BED (recurrent binge eating without compensatory behaviors) and physical activity behaviors. PURPOSE To determine the relationships between BED, binge eating severity (BES) and PA patterns, historical/current. METHOD The study was a mixed-method design conducted in 3 phases. Phase 1: Self-administered questionnaires were used to compare age, BMI, body weight (BW), PA patterns, and exercise perceived benefits/barriers (BB) scores of BED (n=23) with subclinical BED (n=19) and controls (n=23). Age, BMI, BW, and PA were compared using one-way ANOVA. Chi square was used to compare individual BB questions between groups. Descriptive statistics were used to identify common BB for the BED group only. Phase 2: pedometers were used to clarify PA data among a subsample of BED (n=15). Kendall's tau-b correlation was used to compare BES and mean steps per day (MS). Phase 3: semi-structured interviews were conducted with a subsample (n=5) from Phase 2 to qualitatively clarify the PA perceptions of BED. RESULTS There were no significant differences between groups in age, PA patterns, or BB scores. No significant relationship was found between BES and MS. BED had significantly higher BW and BMI compared to controls (p<0.05), whereas there were no weight differences between the BED and subclinical BED groups. Significant differences were found between 5 individual BB questions (p<0.05). BED believed exercise: was embarrassing, inconvenient, cost too much, took too much time away from family, and relieved tension and stress. Interview themes supported these benefit and barrier beliefs. CONCLUSIONS BED report similar PA compared to controls, but perceived exercise BB are significantly different. If exercise is to be used as an adjunct treatment strategy for BED it may be necessary to address specific barriers as part of the exercise intervention process.