title: Eating disorders and exercise: a structural equation modelling analysis of a conceptual model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the well-established health benefits of physical activity, the role of exercise for eating disorders (ED) is controversial; thus dictating a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of exercise and ED. The purpose of our study was to examine a conceptual model that hypothesizes regular exercise without psychological compulsion might impart beneficial effects for preventing and treating ED.
  
  
  METHODS
  University students (N = 539) completed self-report assessments of quality of life, exercise level, ED risk and exercise dependence symptoms. Structural equation modelling analysis was undertaken to examine the conceptual model's proposed relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mediation analysis and model comparison tests showed that the partially mediated model without the physical well-being latent construct fit the data best.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provided initial support for the conceptual model by showing that the psychological benefits, but not the physical benefits, conveyed by exercise were associated with reduced ED risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, KY 40506, USA. briancook@uky.edu
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hausenblas
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tuccitto
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Giacobbi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires