Exercise in the treatment of binge eating disorder.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we examined the effects of an exercise intervention in the treatment of obese women with binge eating disorder (BED).


METHODS
Subjects were randomized to one of two 6-month treatment programs that included an identical exercise component (n = 44) or to a delayed treatment control condition (n = 33). Exercise level, binge eating frequency, and depressive symptomatology were assessed pre- and posttreatment.


RESULTS
Women who received active treatment reported significantly greater increases in their weekly exercise frequency than did control subjects. At posttreatment, 81.4% of subjects who had received treatment were abstinent from binge eating. Compared to women who were not abstinent at posttreatment, abstinent women evidenced significant changes in exercise frequency and caloric expenditure. However, weight loss and improvements in depressive symptomatology were not related to exercise participation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that exercise may be an important aspect of BED treatment and useful in promoting abstinence from binge eating.
Levine
M D
MD
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychology, USA.
Marcus
M D
MD
Moulton
P
P
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015431:Weight Loss