Detecting pathological exercise in college men: An investigation using latent profile analysis

Abstract

Objective

Pathological exercise is a dangerous behavior often observed in eating disorders. Data investigating associated characteristics of pathological exercise in men are lacking, despite college men and women being at equally elevated risk for developing eating disorders.

Participants

Two hundred and twenty-four college men who exercise regularly completed a series of self-report questionnaires.

Methods

Latent profile analysis was used to identify empirically-derived homogenous subgroups of regular exercisers based on severity of other eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. Profiles were also compared on differences in exercise motivation and general psychopathology (i.e., depression, anxiety).

Results

Fit indices indicated a three-profile solution. Profiles described an eating psychopathology group, a low psychopathology group, and a high exercise frequency group without eating disorder features.

Conclusions

Pathological exercise cannot be identified using exercise frequency alone. Other features like body dissatisfaction and exercise motivation style are relevant in identifying pathological exercise behavior in college men.

Keywords:

• Eating disorder
• latent profile analysis
• muscularity
• pathological exercise

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of United States of America and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Rutgers University Institutional Review Board.

Notes

1 Exercise among those with eating disorders may be excessive,¹² compulsive,¹³ and/or compensatory.¹⁴ There is still much debate on how best to label and quantify exercise in those with eating disorders.¹⁵ Therefore, while ‘pathological’ exercise is not a typical descriptor, it is used here intentionally to describe the range of exercise that may occur in those with eating psychopathology.

Additional information

Funding

This article was funded by Division of Graduate Education.