Assessment and treatment of compulsive exercise in anorexia nervosa – A combined investigation of Compulsive Exercise Activity Therapy (LEAP) and Compulsive Exercise Test subscales

Introduction

Compulsive exercise is a transdiagnostic feature of eating disorders which adversely affects aspects of recovery, such as length of hospitalisation, risk of a chronic outcome, and risk of relapse. CompuLsive Exercise Activity TheraPy (LEAP) aims to reduce compulsive exercise through a cognitive behavioural approach. This study aims to investigate the effect of LEAP on compulsive exercise behaviour using subscales of the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET), a measure of exercise in individuals with eating disorders. Predictive validity of the CET's subscales and its ability to predict eating psychopathology are investigated.

Method

This study used data from a randomized controlled trial of LEAP (1). Linear mixed modelling was used to investigate the effect of LEAP on compulsive exercise behaviour, and the predictive ability of CET subscales on various outcomes. The CET was compared to other exercise measures to assess its superiority in predicting eating psychopathology.

Results

LEAP was superior in reducing the scores of the CET's Avoidance and Rule Driven Behaviour and Exercise Rigidity subscales. All subscales made a contribution to the respective models. The CET was superior to other measures in predicting eating pathology.

Conclusion

The results lend credibility to LEAP's ability to reduce core parts of compulsive exercise. The CET has been found to target important aspects of compulsive exercise behaviour, and has was superior to other exercise measures in predicting eating psychopathology.