This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Applied Sport Psychology on 08-05-2014, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10413200.2013.867911.This study assessed the 5 factor structure of the Compulsive Exercise Test and explored the relationship between compulsive exercise and eating psychopathology in athletes. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses of the Compulsive Exercise Test were conducted with 689 competitive athletes (aged 18 to 35 years). Convergent validity with the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire was explored. The 5 factor structure showed a poor fit; an alternative 3 factor structure is proposed. Exercising for weight control and to avoid a negative mood were strongly associated with eating psychopathology. Implications for using the Compulsive Exercise Test with athletes are discussed

This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) among an adult sample of patients with eating disorders. Three hundred and fifty six patients and 360 non-clinical control women completed the CET and the Eating Disorders Examination questionnaire (EDE-Q). A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the clinical data showed a moderate fit to the previously published five factor model derived from a community sample (Taranis L, Touyz S, Meyer C, Eur Eat Disord Rev 19:256-268, 2011). The clinical group scored significantly higher than the non-clinical group on four of the five CET subscales, and logistic regression analysis revealed that the CET could successfully discriminate between the two groups. A Receiver Operating Curve analysis revealed that a cut-off score of 15 on the CET resulted in acceptable values of both sensitivity and specificity. The CET appears to have a factor structure that is acceptable for use with an adult sample of patients with eating disorders. It can identify compulsive exercise among patients with eating disorders and a cut-off score of 15 is acceptable as indicating an appropriate cut-off point.

This paper is in closed access until it is published.Little is known about the evolution of female athlete body image into retirement. In this study, 218 retired athletes from aesthetic sports answered a series of closed and open ended questions regarding bodily changes since retirement. Years since retirement was unrelated to current weight status (e.g., underweight, normal weight), what they were doing about current weight (e.g., lose weight), and satisfaction with current weight (all p’s > .69). Overall, 74.3% thought they were normal weight, yet 55% were dissatisfied with their weight and 59.6% were trying to lose weight. A rigorous thematic analysis of the qualitative data yielded 4 core themes that characterized participants’ experiences: 1) A move towards the feminine ideal; 2) Feeling fat, flabby and ashamed; 3) A continued commitment to a former self; and 4) Conflicting ideals: The retired female athlete paradox. Perceived muscle loss was considered indicative of either increased fat (dissatisfaction) or increased femininity (satisfaction). For some retired athletes, the satisfaction brought on by newfound femininity was complicated by a coinciding and conflicting commitment to a muscular athletic physique. Practical applications include strategies for sport psychologists to better support athletes in coping with the body changes that occur on retirement from elite sport

The present study assessed the suitability of the Compulsive Exercise Test (athlete version; CET‐A) for identifying female athletes with clinically significant features related to or comparable with eating psychopathology. Three hundred and sixty‐one female athletes (including 12 with a clinically diagnosed eating disorder) completed the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire and the CET‐A. Receiver operating curve analysis was employed to identify a cut‐off value on the CET‐A, which could indicate clinically significant features related to or comparable with eating psychopathology among female athletes. The analysis demonstrated that a CET‐A score of 10 successfully discriminated female athletes with a current eating disorder. The results suggest that the CET‐A may be a suitable tool for detecting eating psychopathology in female athletes. Additional longitudinal research is needed to evaluate the predictive value of the CET‐A. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Objective: To explore the relationships between the use of food intake and activity monitoring tools with compulsive exercise, eating psychopathology, and psychological wellbeing.Method: Participants (N = 352; mean age 21.90 years) indicated their use of activity and food intake monitoring tools, and completed the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET), Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE‐Q), and the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).Results: Users of monitoring tools reported significantly higher CET and EDE‐Q scores than nonusers. Positive associations were detected between the frequency of activity monitoring tool use with CET and EDE‐Q scores. Participants who reported using monitoring tools primarily to manage weight and shape reported higher levels of eating and compulsive exercise psychopathology than those who reported using tools to improve health and fitness.Discussion: Features of compulsive exercise and eating psychopathology are elevated among users of food intake and activity monitoring tools; and particularly among those who report using the tools for weight and shape purposes. Longitudinal and experimental research is needed to further our understanding of these observed associations, and specifically to explore the prospective relationships between monitoring tool use, eating psychopathology, and compulsive exercise.