Prevalencia de ejercicio compulsivo y su relación con trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en una población de 20 a 34 años que acuden a gimnasios de Cuenca, 2021

Abstract

Compulsive exercise is considered a sustained rigid repetitive behavior that represents a morbid behavioral pattern. Indeed, it has been associated with eating disorders that can trigger pathologies such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other unspecified eating disorders. Objective: To determine the prevalence of compulsive exercise and its association with risk behaviors for eating disorders in a population aged 20 to 34 years in gyms de Cuenca, 2021. Methodology: Observational, quantitative, cross-sectional prevalence study in 425 users of gyms in Cuenca, using two questionnaires: Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) and Eating Disorders Examination (EDE-Q). Data processing was carried out with SPSS version 23 and Epidat 3.1 and an analysis of frequencies and percentages with PR and 95% CI was elaborated. Results: 78.1% were aged between 20 and 27 years. Female gender 56 %, urban residence 62.2 %, single marital status 77 % and third level academic degree with 64 % predominated. A prevalence of compulsive exercise of 16 % and of eating disorder behaviors of 10.8 % was observed. Statistical significance was evidenced between eating disorder risk behaviors and the variable of compulsive exercise with a p-value < 0.05. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant relationship between compulsive exercise and eating disorders among the users who attended gyms in the city of Cuenca.