title: An exploration of the influence of thinness expectancies and eating pathology on compensatory exercise.
abstract: Compensatory exercise (exercise performed in an effort to control weight/shape or in response to caloric intake) and thinness expectancies (beliefs that thinness will improve the overall quality of life) are strongly linked to the development, maintenance, severity, and outcome of eating disorders. There is little literature, however, examining the relationship between compensatory exercise and thinness expectancies. The goal of the current study was to examine whether thinness expectancies contribute significant variance in the endorsement of excessive exercise over and above binge eating, restraint, and shape and weight concerns. A total of 677 undergraduate women (mean age=18.73) completed self-report measures of thinness expectancies and eating disorder symptoms (TREI and EDE-Q). There was a significant association between thinness expectancies and frequency of compensatory exercise behavior. Restraint and subjective binge episodes accounted for significant variance in compensatory exercise. Frequency of objective binge episodes did not, nor did endorsement of thinness expectancies. These findings suggest a potential profile of individuals engaging in compensatory exercise as individuals who actively restrict their diets, feel as if they have binged when they violate those restrictions, and feel the need to excessively exercise to compensate for the subjective binges.
authors: University of Georgia, United States. Electronic address: ashtonlgarner@gmail.com.
authors: Ashton
authors: A
authors: Garner
authors: University of Georgia, United States.
authors: Kendra
authors: K
authors: Davis-Becker
authors: George Mason University, United States.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Compensatory exercise; Eating pathology; Thinness expectancies