Correlation between levels of physical activity and anxiety and in patients with binge-eating disorder

Abstract

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is linked to several psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety disorders. Approximately 50-60% of BED patients are resistant to the traditional treatments available, and thus, strategies supporting the treatment of BED are needed, such as physical activity (PA). It seems to be an interesting strategy to reduce BED and anxiety symptoms. Thus, since PA has a role in reducing BED episodes and improving anxiety symptoms, then more research is needed to clarify the role of PA on BED, as correlations between anxiety-BED and anxiety-PA are established. Therefore, our aim is to examine the relationship between PA and anxiety in patients with BED. Thirty two patients we submitted to psychological and PA questionnaires. A Pearson's correlation coefficient and a multiple linear regression analysis were performed to relate eating disorder behaviour, anxiety and PA. The correlation coefficients between the dimensions of BED and anxiety were almost all significant (except restriction), positive and moderate (p<0.001). Thus, the higher the eating disorder values, the higher the anxiety levels (p<0.01). In conclusion, our findings support that PA correlates with anxiety in patients with BED, suggesting that PA may decrease symptoms, such as the appetite, weight and body shape concerns.