Body esteem and eating disorder symptomatology: The mediating role of appearance-motivated exercise in a non-clinical adult female sample

ObjectivesLow body esteem poses a risk for the development of eating disorder symptomatology. Appearance-motivated exercise, as opposed to health-motivated exercise, has been associated with both low body esteem and eating disorder symptomatology. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of appearance-motivated exercise in the link between body esteem and eating disorder symptomatology.MethodFemale fitness club members (N = 81) reported their body esteem, eating disorder symptomatology and exercise motives.ResultsAppearance-motivated exercise partially mediated the link between low body esteem and eating disorder symptomatology. In contrast, health-motivated exercise was unrelated to both body esteem and eating disorder symptomatology.ConclusionResults indicate that the motives underlying exercise in response to low body esteem have differential consequences for the potential development of eating disorders, signifying the clinical relevance of considering motives behind exercise.

► We examine links between body esteem, exercise motives and eating disturbance.
► Appearance-motivated exercise is related to eating disorder symptomatology (ES).
► Health-motivated exercise is unrelated to ES.
► Appearance-motivated exercise partly mediates between body esteem and ES.