Predictive Validity of Maladaptive Exercise Definitions: A 10‐Year Longitudinal Cohort Study

The unique effect of appearance exercise highlights the importance of addressing exercise motivations to reduce disordered eating risk. Such work may highlight that exercising for weight control or body definition predicts higher BMI and more disordered eating over the long term. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs, with multiple waves of follow-up, to examine potential bidirectional influences between maladaptive exercise and disordered eating as well as the long-term health consequences of maladaptive exercise.