title: Exercise dependence as a mediator of the exercise and eating disorders relationship: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Excessive exercise is a common feature of eating disorders (ED) and is associated with earlier ED onset, more ED symptoms, and higher persistence of ED behavior. Research indicates that exercise amount alone is not associated with ED. The purpose of this study was to investigate pathological attitudes and behaviors related to exercise (e.g., exercise dependence) as a mediator of the exercise and ED relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 43 women with an ED who completed measures of ED symptoms, exercise behavior, and exercise dependence. Analyses were conducted using the indirect bootstrapping method for examining mediation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercise dependence mediated the relationship between exercise and ED. This mediation model accounted for 14.34% of the variance in the relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results extend the literature by offering preliminary evidence of a psychological variable that may be a candidate for future interventions on the exercise and ED relationship. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, United States; University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, United States. Electronic address: briancook@csumb.edu.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Jacksonville University, United States.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hausenblas
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, United States; University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, United States.
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, United States.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, United States; University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, United States.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wonderlich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Eating disorders; Exercise dependence; Mediator