Nagata JM, et al. - This study was performed to identify exercise behaviors among adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN), atypical AN, or bulimia nervosa (BN). In addition, the authors aimed to determine associations between exercise and medical risk. High levels of exercise were reported in adolescents with AN, atypical AN, and BN. More team sport participation was reported by females. Greater exercise frequency and team sport participation were correlated with bradycardia. Further studies assessing the relationship between exercise and bradycardia could help inform the medical management of adolescents with these eating disorders who were more physically active.

Methods

• From January 1997 and February 2011, the researchers retrospectively reviewed Cross-sectional electronic medical records of all patients assessed by the Eating Disorder Program at Stanford.

Results

• Eligibility criteria was met by 1,083 subjects (961 females, 122 males; mean age 15.6).
• Exercise (mean 7.0 h per week over mean 5.4 days per week) was reported by most patients (89.7%) prior to presentation.
• The most common exercises were running (49.9%), calisthenics (40.7%), walking (23.4%), soccer (20.9%), and swimming (18.2%); a majority (60.6%) reported team sport participation.
• Team exercise (p=.005) was less frequently reported in males.
• After controlling for diagnosis, sex, age, duration of illness, rate of weight loss, and percent median body mass index (%mBMI), bradycardia (heart rate <50) at presentation was correlated 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).