Eating disorder-specific health-related quality of life and exercise in college females.

OBJECTIVE

Although eating disorder (ED) symptoms result in reduced quality of life (QOL), research is needed to examine variables that influence this relationship. The purpose of our study was to conceptually examine the relationship among ED-specific QOL, ED symptoms, and exercise behavior.

METHOD

Female university students (N = 387) completed ED-specific QOL, exercise behavior, ED symptoms, and exercise dependence symptoms measures.

RESULTS

We found support for the beneficial association of psychological QOL on ED symptoms as well as the detrimental association of exercise dependence on ED symptoms.

DISCUSSION

Our results suggest that improvements in psychological aspects of QOL resulting from exercise may mediate ED symptoms when exercise motivations are not pathological. We discuss further research and intervention implications of our findings.