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Pre-Treatment Fear of Weight Gain Is Associated With Engagement in a Greater Degree of Pre-Treatment Maladaptive Exercise Among Individuals With Binge-Spectrum Eating Disorders
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Pre-Treatment Fear of Weight Gain Is Associated With Engagement in a Greater Degree of Pre-Treatment Maladaptive Exercise Among Individuals With Binge-Spectrum Eating Disorders

Naomi G. Hill, Elizabeth W. Lampe, Adrienne Juarascio and Stephanie M. Manasse
European eating disorders review, Forthcoming
06 Feb 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.70090
PMID: 41646029
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
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https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.70090View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

binge eating disorder bulimia nervosa cognitive behaviour therapy fear of weight gain Exercise
Objective Individuals with binge-spectrum eating disorders (EDs) engage in varying degrees of maladaptive and adaptive exercise. Elevated shape/weight concern is associated with engagement in maladaptive and adaptive exercise. No research has examined whether specific facets of shape/weight concern (e.g., fear of weight gain) are associated with degree of maladaptive versus adaptive exercise engagement. Method Participants were 124 adults with binge-spectrum EDs enroled in outpatient trials of Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Linear regression models examined associations between each facet of shape and weight concern concurrently at pre-treatment and degree of maladaptive versus adaptive exercise at pre-treatment (i.e., percentage maladaptive exercise episodes of total exercise episodes). We explored these relationships across treatment and diagnostic groups. Results Greater pre-treatment fear of weight gain was associated with a greater degree of pre-treatment maladaptive exercise (p = 0.027). This pattern was marginally significant in the longitudinal model (p = 0.057) and was upheld within the BN-spectrum (p's < 0.041) but not the BED-spectrum group. Discussion Accounting for all other facets, fear of weight gain may function as a risk factor for engagement in a greater degree of maladaptive exercise pre- and post-treatment. Future research should examine the mechanisms underlying associations between fear of weight gain and maladaptive exercise engagement.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychiatry
Psychology, Clinical
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