Research has begun to investigate the role of exercise in the development and maintenance of eating pathology, particularly the role of exercise as a compensatory weight control strategy. Previous research suggests that while exercise is associated with positive benefits for the majority of individuals, some people utilize exercise in more pathological ways and, therefore, experience more negative outcomes. The present study examined exercise in two distinct groups of exercisers: those with reported disordered eating beliefs and behaviors and those with little or no disordered eating beliefs or behaviors. Ecological momentary assessment was utilized to assess exercise behaviors as they occur and to collect data on affect changes, body dissatisfaction, and eating behaviors, including the amount of food consumed and feelings about that food intake. Participants provided data for approximately seven full days.
Hierarchical Linear Modeling was utilized to allow for the assessment of multiple data points per person. Results suggest that exercisers with high levels of eating pathology experience many of the same beneficial consequences from their exercise as exercisers with low levels of eating pathology, including decreased levels of body dissatisfaction and negative affect following exercise. However, exercisers with eating pathology do appear to experience higher levels of body dissatisfaction and negative affect in general. The effects of exercise motivations were moderated by group membership, with exercisers with eating pathology reporting more appearance and weight related reasons for exercise and less beneficial consequences from fitness and health motivations for exercise. No clear relationships were identified between exercise behaviors and pre or post exercise caloric intake. However, exercisers with high levels of eating pathology did endorse less caloric expenditure (from exercise) on binge eating days than on non-binge eating days. Furthermore, exercisers with high levels of eating pathology also reported more thoughts of restricting their eating behaviors on non-exercise days, suggesting the use of restriction as an alternative compensatory behavior when exercise is not possible. Implications will be discussed.