Background and context: Problematic use of physical activity is frequent in subjects with anorexia nervosa (AN). Although it increases resistance to therapeutic treatment, paradoxically, physical activity in AN can also improve mental and physical health. Based on the literature review we hypothesized that adding an adapted physical activity (APA) program to treatment programs could be more beneficial than a total suppression of physical activities. We designed this open study to evaluate the outcome of AN inpatients after an APA program implementation as well as the perceived effect of APA.
Method: Forty-one women with AN (17.2 (±2.5) years old, BMI of 16.86 (±2.0)) were included. An eight-session (1 h30/session/week) standardized APA program was delivered and evaluated by structured questionnaires assessing exercise dependence, perceived physical activity, eating disorder (ED) symptoms, body mass index (BMI), along with an interview before and after the APA program.
Results: Twenty-nine women complete the PA program and evaluation. BMI and perceived PA score significantly increased, ED and exercise dependence scores significantly decreased (p < .01). Participants appreciated the program.
Discussion/conclusion: The inpatient program which included APA program helped AN inpatients in decreasing their ED symptoms and their dependence to PA, without any deleterious effect on BMI. Furthermore, APA was appreciated by participants.
Keywords: adapted physical activity program; anorexia nervosa; problematic physical activity.
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