The functional exercise capacity and its correlates in obese treatment-seeking people with binge eating disorder: an exploratory study

Abstract

Purpose: The primary aim was to compare the functional exercise capacity between obese treatment-seeking people with and without binge eating disorder (BED) and non-obese controls. The secondary aim was to identify clinical variables including eating and physical activity behaviour, physical complaints, psychopathology and physical self-perception variables in obese people with BED that could explain the variability in functional exercise capacity. Methods: Forty people with BED were compared with 20 age-, gender- and body mass index (BMI)-matched obese persons without BED and 40 age and gender matched non-obese volunteers. A 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the Baecke physical activity questionnaire, the Symptom Checklist-90, the Physical Self-Perception Profile and the Eating Disorder Inventory were administered. Physical complaints before and after the 6MWT were also documented. Results: The distance achieved on the 6MWT was significantly lower in obese participants with BED (512.1 ± 75.8 m versus 682.7 ± 98.4, p < 0.05) compared to non-obese controls. No significant differences were found between obese participants with and without BED. Participants with BED reported significantly (p < 0.05) more musculoskeletal pain and fatigue after the walk test than obese and non-obese controls. A forward stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that sports participation and perceived physical strength explained 41.7% of the variance on the 6MWT in obese participants with BED. Conclusion: Physical activity participation, physical self-perception and perceived physical discomfort during walking should be considered when developing rehabilitation programs for obese people with BED.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Rehabilitation programmes in people with binge eating disorder should incorporate a functional exercise capacity assessment.

• Clinicians involved in the rehabilitation of people with binge eating disorder should consider depression and lower self-esteem as potential barriers.

• Clinicians should take into account the frequently observed physical discomfort when developing rehabilitation programmes for people with binge eating disorder.

• Binge eating
• obesity
• physical activity
• self-concept
• walking

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Tilly Hauman (KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, UPC KU Leuven, campus Kortenberg, Kortenberg, Belgium) and Mieke De Vadder (KU Leuven Department of Abdominal Surgery, campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium) for their assistance in the data collection.

Declaration of interest

Davy Vancampfort is funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO – Vlaanderen). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare related to this study. We also certify that none of the authors have a direct interest in the results of the research supporting this article.