The present study examined the relationships between quantitative and qualitative dimensions of excessive exercise (EE) with the physical self-perception’s dimensions and perceptual perspectives of ...body image (i.e., allocentric/3rd person and egocentric/1st person perspectives). The
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LoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale 1.1, the very short form version of the Physical Self-Inventory and the Exercise and Eating Disorder test were used. The study includes 36 people with anorexia and/or bulimia seeking an external and specialized transdisciplinary program for eating disorders. Results show a different correlational profile of physical self-perceptions depending on the dimension (qualitative or quantitative) used to define EE. Differences in the perspectives used to assess body dissatisfaction (allocentric or egocentric) were also found. Perceived physical appearance was the key predictor of the qualitative dimension of excessive exercise. Findings suggest that EE in patients with an eating disorder could be explained by the feeling of competence not only related to physical appearance but also to physical abilities.
Recent studies have shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives, and most of them have documented its detrimental effect on eating habits. Until now, the effects of this global crisis ...on negative body image and its association with disordered eating behaviors remain largely understudied. This study aimed to investigate changes in frequency of disordered eating behaviors (i.e., restrictive eating, emotional eating, and overeating) and negative body image (i.e., shape and weight concern, and body dissatisfaction) among a community sample of women during the COVID-19 pandemic (October 2020-May 2021). Furthermore, we explored the possible relation between body image-related variables and changes in the frequency of disordered eating behaviors in the context of the pandemic. A total of 161 self-identified female participants enrolled in an online-based survey. Descriptive statistics showed that women did not report clinically significant levels of weight and body shape concerns, but participants reported being dissatisfied with their body. One sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests revealed a tendency toward an increasing of the frequency of all disordered eating behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multinomial logistic regressions showed that weight concerns predicted an overall increase in the frequency of restrictive eating behaviors, whereas higher body dissatisfaction was associated with a moderate self-perceived increase in the frequency of emotional eating. These results shed light on a risk pattern of phenomena in a non-clinical sample of women, as they represent the key risk factors for the development of eating disorders. Findings could have implications for designing and implementing prevention programs.
Recently, neurocognitive studies have shown that food categorization is sensitive to both the properties of the food stimuli (e.g., calorie content) and the individual characteristics of subjects ...(e.g., BMI, eating disorders) asked to categorize these stimuli. Furthermore, groups of patients with eating disorders (ED) were described as relying more on moral criteria to form food categories than were control subjects. The present studies built on these seminal articles and aimed to determine whether certain food properties might trigger moral categories preferentially in subjects suffering from ED and in the general population. Using a Go/No-Go Association Task, Study 1 focused on the extent to which food categories are laden with moral attributes in ED patients compared to control subjects. Study 2 was a follow-up with a different design (an Implicit Association Test), another food variable (calorie content), and two non-clinical subgroups (orthorexic and healthy control subjects). Results revealed for the first time implicit associations between food variables cueing for energy density and moral attributes in the general population, the population suffering from anorexia nervosa, and subjects suffering from disordered eating such as orthorexia nervosa. These findings suggest that moralization of food is a pervasive phenomenon that can be measured with methods reputed to be less vulnerable to self-presentation or social desirability biases.
A growing number of studies have used virtual reality (VR) for the assessment and treatment of body image disturbances (BIDs). This study, conducted in a community sample of adolescents, documents ...the convergent and discriminant validity between (a) the traditional paper-based Figure Rating Scale (paper-based FRS), (b) the VR-based Body Rating Scale (eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1), and (c) the mobile app-based Body Rating Scale (eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile). A total of 93 adolescents (14 to 18 years old) participated in the study. Body dissatisfaction and body distortion were assessed through the paper-based FRS, the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. Eating disorder symptoms, body image avoidance, and social physique anxiety were also measured. Correlation analyses were performed. Overall, the results showed a good and statistically significant convergence between allocentric perspectives as measured by the paper-based FRS, the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. As expected, the egocentric perspective measured in VR produced different results from the allocentric perspective, and from cognitive–attitudinal–affective dimensions of BIDs, with the exception of body distortion. These differences support the discriminant validity of the egocentric perspective of eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and are consistent with emerging evidence, highlighting a difference between experiencing the body from an egocentric (i.e., the body as a subject) and allocentric (i.e., the body as an object) perspective. The egocentric perspective could reflect a perceptual–sensory–affective construction of BIDs, whereas allocentric measures seem to be more related to a cognitive–affective–attitudinal construction of BIDs. Moreover, the results support the validity of the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile with promising perspectives of implementation among young populations.
L’exercice physique pathologique est souvent au cœur du portrait clinique des patients présentant un trouble des conduites alimentaires. Or, peu de recommandations provenant des données probantes ...sont actuellement disponibles pour guider les intervenants dans la prise en charge des patients dits « exerciseurs ». Cet article a pour objectif de présenter l’état des connaissances actuelles quant aux traitements proposés ciblant spécifiquement l’exercice physique pathologique chez les patients présentant tout type de trouble des conduites alimentaires. Cette recension indique des bénéfices des traitements d’exercice physique adapté et de thérapie cognitivo-comportementale, principalement. En outre, les traitements devraient inclure des séances de psychoéducation, promouvoir des séances d’exercice physique hédoniques en groupe, proposer une diversité de mouvement et inclure des séances de repos et de relaxation. Les recommandations dégagées par cette recension indiquent la nécessité de prendre en charge l’exercice physique pathologique à partir d’une équipe clinique interdisciplinaire, voire transdisciplinaire, afin d’adresser de façon holistique un phénomène multidimensionnel et complexe qu’est l’exercice physique pathologique.
Pathological physical exercise is a central feature of eating disorder and is related to a poor prognosis. Only few evidence-based recommendations are currently available to guide caregivers in the management of “exerciser” patients. Objective. The purpose of this paper is to present the current state of knowledge regarding proposed treatments targeting specifically the management of pathological physical exercise in patients with any type of eating disorder.
The literature search took place in March 2020 and has been updated in February 2021 in databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscuss, etc.). English keywords encompassing concepts associated with pathological physical exercise, any type of eating disorder, and treatment were used in various combinations. To be included in the study, the publications identified must be written in English or French and be quantitative or qualitative empirical articles, systematic reviews of the literature or meta-analyses, case studies or syntheses of clinical guidelines.
The synthesis of the studies highlights four main classes of pathological physical exercise treatment: adapted physical exercise treatment (n=6), cognitive-behavioral therapy (n=4), thermoregulation (n=1) and pharmacotherapy (n=1). The summary of currently available treatments for pathological exercise indicates benefits of adapted physical exercise and cognitive-behavioral therapy treatments, primarily. These treatments demonstrate efficacy in improving principally the qualitative components of pathological exercise (decrease of compulsion towards exercise, dysfunctional attitude towards exercise, rigidity towards exercise, exercise to regulate emotions and lack of pleasure during exercise and rule-based exercise) in addition to a favorable effect on other symptoms associated with eating disorder (increase of the body mass index, quality of life, motivational change stage and emotional acceptance as well as decrease of the global eating disorder severity, drive for thinness, perfectionism, depression symptoms and psychological distress). Treatments aimed at reducing pathological exercise should include adapted physical exercise combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy principles, principally. Also, pathological physical exercise treatment should (1) promote the benefit of group and pleasure to avoid ascetic and compulsive behaviors as well as provide a variety of movement, (2) include relaxation/rest intervals to reconnect with bodily sensations, (3) include psychoeducational interventions to learn to identify pathological physical exercise and (4) address emotions and cognitions related to exercise to change the function of behavior. Pharmacological treatments should be used only in specific cases and with great caution.
While this review points to a predominantly uni- or multi-disciplinary approach to the management of pathological physical exercise, the multidimensionality and complexity of this phenomenon dictates that it be managed holistically through a transdisciplinary team. In this regard, transdisciplinary programs that consider physical exercise as a complex phenomenon transcending sectors of activity must be seriously considered.
A growing number of studies have used virtual reality (VR) for the assessment and treatment of body image disturbances (BIDs). This study, conducted in a community sample of adolescents, documents ...the convergent and discriminant validity between (a) the traditional paper-based Figure Rating Scale (paper-based FRS), (b) the VR-based Body Rating Scale (
LoriCorps-IBRS 1.1), and (c) the mobile app-based Body Rating Scale (
LoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile). A total of 93 adolescents (14 to 18 years old) participated in the study. Body dissatisfaction and body distortion were assessed through the paper-based FRS, the
LoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the
LoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. Eating disorder symptoms, body image avoidance, and social physique anxiety were also measured. Correlation analyses were performed. Overall, the results showed a good and statistically significant convergence between allocentric perspectives as measured by the paper-based FRS, the
LoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the
LoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. As expected, the egocentric perspective measured in VR produced different results from the allocentric perspective, and from cognitive-attitudinal-affective dimensions of BIDs, with the exception of body distortion. These differences support the discriminant validity of the egocentric perspective of
LoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and are consistent with emerging evidence, highlighting a difference between experiencing the body from an egocentric (i.e., the body as a subject) and allocentric (i.e., the body as an object) perspective. The egocentric perspective could reflect a perceptual-sensory-affective construction of BIDs, whereas allocentric measures seem to be more related to a cognitive-affective-attitudinal construction of BIDs. Moreover, the results support the validity of the
LoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile with promising perspectives of implementation among young populations.
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