Experience of Compulsive Exercise in Eating Disorders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Experience of Compulsive Exercise in Individuals with an Eating Disorder - An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
IRAS ID
196493
Contact name
Jack Roffe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 19 days
Research summary
The study is interested in eating disorders and compulsive exercise, in particular how individuals with an eating disorder experience and make sense of their exercise behaviour. Exercise is widely regarded as being good for our health and well-being and as a nation we are encouraged to undertake it regularly. However, for those with an eating disorder it can become compulsive which can to difficulties in treatment, increase the associated health risks and accelerate weight loss.
Typically, professionals have been interested in assessing how frequently an individual is exercising. More recent quantitative research has demonstrated that is more important to understand why someone is exercising. There is very limited qualitative literature available exploring this relationship. It is therefore essential that the voice and perceptions of these individuals are heard. This research might help contribute to us understanding how individuals experience exercise and potentially lead to the development of more appropriate exercise interventions.
Individuals that have been seen by an NHS adult eating disorder service, diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa (or subtypes of) will be eligible for the study. Additionally, the potential participant will be assessed as being compelled and driven to exercise based on the clinician’s clinical judgement; this is routinely assessed within the NHS service. Eligible participants will be invited to take part in a one-to-one interview with the Chief Investigator where they will be asked questions related to their eating disorder and exercise. The interviews will be recorded, transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The study will be open until a final thesis is submitted to the University of Leicester in April 2017 with initial recruitment lasting up to 6 months or until a maximum of 10 participants have been interviewed.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
16/NI/0083
Date of REC Opinion
25 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion