# Compulsive Exercise and Changes in Physical Activity Among Females: A Longitudinal Analysis During the First 12 Months of the COVID‐19 Pandemic

## TL;DR

This study found that changes in physical activity during the early months of the pandemic were linked to increased compulsive exercise for weight control among adult females.

## Contribution

The study reveals a novel link between early pandemic-related changes in physical activity and subsequent compulsive exercise behaviors tied to weight control.

## Key findings

- Compulsive exercise attitudes changed significantly over the first year of the pandemic among adult females.
- Females who altered their physical activity early in the pandemic showed higher weight control-related exercise behaviors.
- No significant interaction effects were found between time and physical activity changes.

## Abstract

This study had two aims; first to explore changes in compulsive exercise among adult females across the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and second, to explore how changes to physical activity early in the pandemic impacted compulsive exercise.

Participants were 174 adult females who completed online surveys four times (T1–T4) during the first 12 months of the pandemic. Participants reported changes in physical activity (T1) and completed the compulsive exercise test (CET) at each time point (T1–T4).

Mixed ANOVAs with time (T1–T4) and group (did versus did not report changes in physical activity) as factors revealed that compulsive exercise significantly differed across timepoints for the whole sample. Furthermore, females who reported that their physical activity levels had changed early in the pandemic reported higher levels of CET Weight Control Exercise compared to those who reported no change. No significant interactions were found.

Among this sample of adult females, attitudes towards exercise changed during the first year of the pandemic, which may reflect the impact of varying lockdown restrictions. Additionally, changes to physical activity early in the pandemic were linked with exercising to control body weight. This suggests that externally influenced changes in physical activity may be an influential factor in the development of compulsive exercise. This may have implications for understanding and managing risk in a range of transition situations that impact upon physical activity.

One hundred and seventy‐four females reported on whether their physical activity changed at the start of the pandemic, and their exercise behaviors at four time points across 12 months. Results from the Compulsive Exercise Test showed that exercise for weight control was significantly higher in females who reported a change in physical activity early in the pandemic (n = 104) compared to those who did not (n = 70).