title: Disordered eating behavior among group fitness instructors: a health-threatening secret?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to examine disordered eating behavior (DE) and self-reported eating disorders (ED) among Norwegian group fitness instructors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group fitness instructors from Norway (n = 685 females and 152 males, response rate: 57 %) completed an online survey. The survey included the instruments Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) and the Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 % of the male and 59 % of the female respondents were classified with DE. The respondents classified with DE had higher BMI, more weight loss attempts, and higher total EDI score compared to the respondents with no DE. A correlation between EDI total score and EDS total score was found among both male and female group fitness instructors. No males and four percent of the females reported having a current ED. The instructors with self-reported current ED had higher weekly volume of instructing classes compared to the other instructors. None of the respondents with self-reported ED had informed their center manager about it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of DE behavior calls for concern. The reported secrecy regarding self-reported ED might decrease the possibility for early recognition and intervention. The findings reveal implications for the instructors' physical and mental health, for their reputation and impact as important healthy role models and health/fitness authorities, and for the importance of prevention, identification and management of such behavior in fitness center settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of sport and outdoor life sciences, Telemark University College, Gullbringvegen 36, 3800 Bø, Telemark Norway ; Research Institute, Modum Bad Psychiatric Center, Vikersund, Norway.
authors.forename: Solfrid
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4202-5439
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bratland-Sanda
authors.affiliation: Department of sports medicine, Norwegian school of sport sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Merethe Pauline
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of sports medicine, Norwegian school of sport sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jorunn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundgot-Borgen
keywords: Body dissatisfaction; Dieting; Eating disorders; Exercise; Psychiatry; Sports