Characterizing rates of physical activity in individuals with binge eating disorder using wearable sensor technologies and clinical interviews

Abstract

Objective: Research suggests physical activity (PA) improves behavioural, psychological and behavioural symptoms in individuals with binge eating disorder (BED), yet self-reported PA is notably low. Little remains known about objective rates of PA and subclinical levels of maladaptive PA (i.e., compensatory or driven PA), and few studies have attempted to understand the role that dissatisfaction and overvaluation with shape and weight plays in promoting PA in individuals with BED. We sought to characterize PA and investigate whether elevated rates of shape and weight concerns contribute to rates of PA in individuals with BED.

Method: Individuals meeting DSM-5 diagnosis of BED (N = 56) completed the Eating Disorder Examination and wore a Fitbit Flex 2 for 1 week.

Results: On average, participants recorded 7621.12 (SD = 3034.20) daily steps and 194.30 (SD = 161.45) weekly moderate-to-vigorous PA minutes. About 21% of participants reported subclinical levels of maladaptive PA. Greater shape and weight overvaluation predicted lower duration of compensatory PA.

Conclusion: A small percentage of individuals with BED are engaging in subclinical levels of maladaptive PA, and there is a need to identify factors that influence rates of PA in individuals with BED.

Keywords: binge eating disorder; physical activity; shape and weigh overvaluation.