Eating disorders among gymnasium users

Background: People who work out could have an excessive concern for diet and body weight and thus be more prone to have eating disorders. Aim: To compare psychological and behavioral traits between subjects with clinically relevant eating disorders and subjects that work out regularly. Subjects and methods: The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) and the eight items of the Eating Disorders Inventory were administered to 151 patients that fulfilled the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for eating disorders and to 396 subjects who work out regularly in gymnasiums (136 males). Results: Eighteen percent of subjects that worked out (5 males and 67 females) scored within the pathological range in the EAT-40. These subjects were classified as having a subclinical eating disorder. When comparing the EDI scores of these subjects with those of patients with clinically relevant eating disorders, they had a similar Drive for thinness (p= 0.413), Body dissatisfaction (p= 0.365), Maturity fears (p= 0.190) and Perfectionism (p= 0.907). Females had similar Interpersonal distrust (p= 0.709) scores. Males had similar Maturity fears (p= 0.119), Perfectionism (p= 0.253) and Interpersonal distrust (p= 0.767) scores. Conclusions: Subjects that work out regularly and have subclinical eating disorders, display similar drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, immaturity and perfectionism traits, than patients suffering from clinically relevant eating disorders.