The Relationship between Compulsive Exercise, Self-Esteem, Body Image and Body Satisfaction in Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Juncal Ruiz-Turrero,Dominika Kwasnicka,Gill A Ten Hoor,Karlijn Massar

doi:10.3390/ijerph19031857

Juncal Ruiz-Turrero, Dominika Kwasnicka + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031857

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Abstract

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to test the relationship between compulsive exercise and self-esteem, body image, and body satisfaction as potential predictors of eating disorders. Methods: Self-report measures of compulsive exercise beliefs and behaviors, self-esteem, body image, and body satisfaction, were completed by 120 female participants through an online questionnaire. Factor analyses with varimax rotation were performed to create exercise-frequency groups. ANOVA’s were performed on Body Mass Index (weight adjusted for height squared, BMI), current minus ideal weight, self-esteem, body image, and body satisfaction to determine if there were differences depending on these exercise groups. Results: Factor analysis revealed two factors for compulsive exercise beliefs and behaviors: (1) Exercise Fixation, and (2) Exercise Frequency and Commitment. Based on those factors, participants were subdivided into four clusters: (1) pathological obligatory exercisers, (2) exercise fixators, (3) committed exercisers, and (4) non-exercisers. No differences were found between these groups for BMI or current minus ideal weight. Pathological obligatory exercisers and committed exercisers spend significantly more hours on exercise weekly compared to exercise fixators or non-exercisers. No differences between pathological obligatory exercisers, exercise fixators, and non-exercisers were found on self-esteem or body satisfaction, where the committed exercisers scored significantly better. Both committed exercisers and non-exercisers scored significantly better on body image flexibility compared to pathological obligatory exercisers and exercise fixators. Conclusion: Compulsive exercise has both an exercise volume and an emotional component. The level of compulsive exercise is linked to one’s self-esteem, body image, and body satisfaction and those factors could be a target for future interventions.

Highlights

In the current study, following and extending the study by [26] who performed a similar study on the relationship between excessive exercise and disordered eating behaviors, we investigated exercise typologies in a sample of women and assessed the association of exercise with BMI, ideal weight, self-esteem, body satisfaction, and body image
This study showed support for this suggestion, as it was found that it was not exercise frequency and commitment that predicted different outcomes for self-esteem, body satisfaction and body image, but instead, it was the exercise fixation that predicted the changes in these measures between the four cluster-analysis-derived groups
We aimed to explore this link further and found the same factor to predict the lowest levels of self-esteem, body image and body satisfaction

Summary

Introduction

The benefits of physical exercise for individuals’ mental and physical health are well documented. Exercise is known to decrease depression and anxiety [1,2], to increase energy levels in both healthy individuals and those who suffer from various medical conditions [3,4,5], to reduce the risk of chronic disease [6,7], and to increase brain health and memory [8]. For some individuals, there is a slippery slope from healthy and enjoyable exercise to compulsive exercise, which can cause interference with one’s daily activities and is often undertaken to a level that is harmful [9]. Compulsive exercise is a common symptom of several eating disorders, predominantly of bulimia and (the purging form) of anorexia nervosa [10,11]

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