Assessment of Maladaptive Exercise History Among Individuals With Eating Disorders: Validation of a Brief, Self‐Report Measure

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Maladaptive exercise is a common symptom of eating disorders (EDs). While several measures exist to assess current maladaptive exercise, there are no validated self-report tools to assess maladaptive exercise history-an important symptom domain among individuals with lifetime EDs. METHOD: Using data from a large sample of individuals with at least one lifetime ED diagnosis across four countries (N = 31,670), the current study aimed to validate and refine the Eating Disorders 100,000 Questionnaire-version 3 exercise items to create a brief measure of lifetime and current maladaptive exercise, suitable for large-scale epidemiological research and clinical screenings. RESULTS: Five non-redundant operationalisations of maladaptive exercise were identified ('Any Maladaptive Exercise', 'Regular Maladaptive Exercise', 'Compensatory Exercise', 'Excessive Exercise', 'Current Maladaptive Exercise'). Maladaptive exercise history was present across all lifetime ED presentations assessed, though endorsement levels varied based on scoring operationalisation. Individuals reporting a history of anorexia nervosa reported the highest levels of endorsement of most constructs, closely followed by bulimia nervosa. Compensatory exercise was endorsed most frequently among those reporting a history of bulimia nervosa relative to other diagnostic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Six key items were recommended as a brief screening assessment to capture maladaptive exercise history in EDs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EDGI is a registered clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT04378101).

Source: European Eating Disorders Review

DOI: 10.1002/erv.70084

Institutions: University of Wisconsin–Madison, The University of Texas at Austin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, University of Otago, The University of Sydney, The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center, The University of Texas at San Antonio, University at Albany, State University of New York, Bowling Green State University, Suffolk University, Karolinska Institutet, Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm Health Care Services, The University of Queensland, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Health New Zealand

Language: English

Topic: Eating Disorders and Behaviors

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,330

Funders: Fredrik och Ingrid Thurings Stiftelse, Lundbeckfonden, Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning, Karolinska Institutet, Vetenskapsrådet, H. Lundbeck A/S, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

OpenAlex ID: W7129071201