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Accuracy of self-reported physical activity in patients with anorexia nervosa: links with clinical features

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posted on 2019-09-06, 13:25 authored by Louise Bezzina, Stephen Touyz, Sarah Young, Nasim Foroughi, Stacy ClemesStacy Clemes, Caroline Meyer, Jon Arcelus, Sloane Madden, Evelyn Attia, Kathleen M Pike, Phillipa Hay
Background: High levels of physical activity (PA) have long been described in patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Despite the importance of measuring PA in this population, there are two important factors that remain unknown. First, it is not clear how accurate self-report measures of PA are among patients. Second, little is known about how clinical characteristics are associated with the accuracy of self-reported PA. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the accuracy of self-reported PA compared to an objective measure of PA in patients with AN. It also investigated whether levels of accuracy/inaccuracy were associated with compulsive exercise, motivation to change, and psychological distress. Method: Data were analysed from 34 adult outpatients with AN. Patients wore an accelerometer device (ActiGraph) for 4 days and completed a retrospective self-report measure of exercise (Exercise Participation Screening Questionnaire). They also completed measures of compulsive exercise (Compulsive Exercise Test), motivation to change (The Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire), and psychological distress (Kessler-10). Results: On the self-report measure, patients accurately reported their time spent in moderate and vigorous intensity PA, however, they significantly under-reported their light physical activity (compared to the accelerometer data). Accurate reporting of total PA was positively associated with higher levels of compulsive exercise. There was evidence to suggest that clinical features, such as motivation to change and psychological distress, may be associated with inaccurate reporting at some levels of PA intensity and not others. Conclusions: Results indicate that patients with AN are likely to under-report their light intensity PA. We also found preliminary evidence for how compulsive exercise, motivation to change, and distress are associated with self-reported PA accuracy. Clinical implications and directions for future research are considered. Trial registration: ACTRN12610000585022. Taking a LEAP forward in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a randomized controlled trial. NHMRC grant: 634922.

Funding

NHMRC Project Grant no. 634922

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume

7

Publisher

BMC part of Springer Nature

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Rights holder

© The Authors

Acceptance date

2019-08-01

Publication date

2019-08-23

Copyright date

2019

ISSN

2050-2974

Language

  • en

Depositor

Dr Stacy Clemes

Article number

28

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