Background: This study investigated the relationship between weekly structured physical exercise (PE) volume and type and the risk of eating disorders (EDs), with particular attention to age and sex differences. Methods: A total of 417 healthy adults (mean weekly PE: 256.19 ± 133.03 min) completed a self-report questionnaire covering personal information, weekly PE characteristics, and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). Binary logistic regression was performed with the EAT-26 score as the dependent variable and PE volume, exercise type, age, and sex set as predictors. Results: The results of the binary logistic regression model were statistically significant (χ2 = 16.784, p = 0.003). Sex emerged as the strongest independent predictor of ED risk (p = 0.003). Cross-tabulation confirmed a significant sex disparity, with females showing a threefold higher prevalence of at-risk EAT-26 scores (17.6%) compared to males (5.2%). No significant correlation was found between EAT-26 score and PE volume, nor were significant differences in ED risk observed across different types of structured exercise. Conclusions: When controlling for age, neither exercise volume nor type serves as a direct linear predictor of ED risk. Sex remains the strongest demographic predictor.
Amato et al. (Thu,) studied this question.