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. 2017 Dec;50(12):1394-1403.
doi: 10.1002/eat.22796. Epub 2017 Nov 7.

Characterization and correlates of exercise among adolescents with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

Jason M Nagata  1   2 , Jennifer L Carlson  1 , Jessica M Kao  3 , Neville H Golden  1 , Stuart B Murray  4 , Rebecka Peebles  5
Affiliations

Characterization and correlates of exercise among adolescents with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

Jason M Nagata et al. Int J Eat Disord. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To characterize exercise behaviors among adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN), atypical AN, or bulimia nervosa (BN), and determine associations between exercise and medical risk.

Study design: Cross-sectional electronic medical records of all patients evaluated by the Eating Disorder Program at Stanford between January 1997 and February 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: 1,083 subjects (961 females, 122 males; mean age 15.6) met eligibility criteria. Most patients (89.7%) reported exercise (mean 7.0 h per week over mean 5.4 days per week) prior to presentation. Running (49.9%), calisthenics (40.7%), walking (23.4%), soccer (20.9%), and swimming (18.2%) were the most common exercises; a majority (60.6%) reported team sport participation. Males were less likely to report team exercise (p = .005). Bradycardia (heart rate <50) at presentation was associated with team sport participation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.72) and hours of exercise per week (AOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.09), controlling for diagnosis, sex, age, duration of illness, rate of weight loss, and percent median body mass index (%mBMI).

Discussion: Adolescents with AN, atypical AN, and BN reported high levels of exercise. Females reported more team sport participation. Greater exercise frequency and team sport participation were associated with bradycardia. Further studies assessing the relationship between exercise and bradycardia may help inform the medical management of adolescents with these eating disorders who are more physically active.

Keywords: QTc; anorexia nervosa; atypical anorexia nervosa; bradycardia; bulimia nervosa; cardiovascular; exercise; physical activity; team sport.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency of exercise type, by sex
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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