Body composition and physical fitness in women with bulimia nervosa or binge‐eating disorder

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 331 - 342
• Main Authors: Mathisen, Therese Fostervold, Rosenvinge, Jan H., Friborg, Oddgeir, Pettersen, Gunn, Stensrud, Trine, Hansen, Bjørge Herman, Underhaug, Karoline E., Teinung, Elisabeth, Vrabel, KariAnne, Svendsen, Mette, Bratland‐Sanda, Solfrid, Sundgot‐Borgen, Jorunn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2018; Wiley; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Binge eating; Binge-Eating Disorder - psychology; Binge-Eating Disorder - therapy; binge‐eating disorder; Body composition; Body Composition - physiology; Body mass index; Bone density; Bulimia; bulimia nervosa; Bulimia Nervosa - psychology; Bulimia Nervosa - therapy; cardiorespiratory fitness; Eating disorders; Exercise; Female; Health sciences: 800; Helsefag: 800; Humans; Medical disciplines: 700; Medisinske Fag: 700; muscle strength; Original; physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Psychology: 260; Psykologi: 260; Samfunnsvitenskap: 200; Social science: 200; VDP; bulimia nervosa; muscle strength; cardiorespiratory fitness; physical fitness; binge-eating disorder; eating disorders; physical activity
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.22841

Objective Knowledge about physical fitness in women with bulimia nervosa (BN) or binge‐eating disorder (BED) is sparse. Previous studies have measured physical activity largely through self‐report, and physical fitness variables are mainly restricted to body mass index (BMI) and bone mineral density. We expanded the current knowledge in these groups by including a wider range of physical fitness indicators and objective measures of physical activity, assessed the influence of a history of anorexia nervosa (AN), and evaluated predictive variables for physical fitness. Method Physical activity, blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscle strength, body composition, and bone mineral density were measured in 156 women with BN or BED, with mean (SD) age 28.4 years (5.7) and BMI 25.3 (4.8) kg m−2. Results Level of physical activity was higher than normative levels, still <50% met the official physical activity recommendation. Fitness in women with BN were on an average comparable with recommendations or normative levels, while women with BED had lower CRF and higher BMI, VAT, and body fat percentage. We found 10–12% with masked obesity. A history of AN did not predict current physical fitness, still values for current body composition were lower when comparing those with history of AN to those with no such history. Discussion Overall, participants with BN or BED displayed adequate physical fitness; however, a high number had unfavorable CRF and body composition. This finding calls for inclusion of physical fitness in routine clinical examinations and guided physical activity and dietary recommendations in the treatment of BN and BED.