Under pressure to exercise: a cross-sectional study of characteristics and predictors of compulsive exercise in early adolescents

Background To investigate the frequency of compulsive exercise among early adolescents, and determine the associated impact of sex, physical activity level, exercise habits, motivational regulation, dieting behaviour and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on compulsive exercise. Methods Cross-sectional design with 8th grade adolescents (n = 572, mean ± SD age 13.9 ± 0.3 yrs). Outcome assessment was compulsive exercise (Compulsive Exercise Test, CET). Total CET score ≥ 15 was defined as clinical CET score. Further assessment included exercise motivation (Behavioural Regulation of Exercise Questionnaire—2), HRQoL (KIDSCREEN 27), accelerometer-assessed physical activity and Andersen test for cardiorespiratory fitness. Exercise obsession was defined as clinical CET score and