The Freiburg sport therapy program for eating disorders: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract: Background
Unhealthy attitudes towards sport and problematic exercise behavior in eating disorders (ED) are common and associated with poorer treatment outcome and higher relapse rates. There is a need to develop and empirically test interventions that could complement standard treatment. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of the Freiburg sport therapy program for eating disorders (FSTP).

Methods
Outpatients with ED were randomized either to a 3 month sport therapy program (sport therapy group: STG) or a waiting list control group (CG). Patients were assessed when starting the program and at the end of the intervention. The intervention group (STG) was followed up after 6 month. Main outcome criterion was a reduction in unhealthy exercise (Commitment to Exercise Scale, CES). Secondary outcomes encompassed eating pathology (Eating Disorder Examination, EDE), different dimensions of unhealthy exercise (Compulsive Exercise Test, CET subscales) and exercise quantity (accelerometer).

Results
Recruitment was challenging. Fifteen patients were randomized to the STG and 11 were randomized to the CG condition. There was no statistically significant difference between groups according to the main outcome criterion. However, the STG showed a significantly stronger reduction in avoidance and rule driven behavior (CET subscale) when compared to the CG. Improvements (STG) were maintained at follow up.

Conclusions
There was no statistically significant difference in the reduction of unhealthy attitudes towards sport and problematic exercise behavior between the intervention and the group, as measured with the Commitment to Exercise Scale. Further findings may point to the effectiveness of the program, but have to be interpreted with caution and verified in further studies. A major limitation is the small sample size.

Trial registration
Study register: ISRCTN 14776348 (registered 26 January, 2015

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Journal of eating disorders. - 8, 1 (2020) , 31, ISSN: 2050-2974

Classification and Topics

• Keyword: Sport ; Anorexia nervosa ; Bulimie ; Sporttherapie ; Essstörung

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2020
• Creator: Zeeck, Almut ; Schlegel, Sabine ; Jagau, Friederike ; Lahmann, Claas ; Hartmann, Armin

Further information

• DOI: 10.1186/s40337-020-00309-0
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-1666831
• Rights: Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 24.02.2026, 2:19 PM CET