Eating disorders (EDs) are severe psychiatric conditions that cause significant health and psychosocial issues, with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) having the highest mortality rates. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in ED cases, especially among children, with heightened restrictive eating and compulsive exercise. Up to 80% of individuals with AN engage in compulsive exercise, which current treatments fail to adequately address.
The State Urge to be Physically Active Questionnaire (SUPA-Q) is the only validated tool for assessing activity urges in ED patients, covering cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects. This study aims to develop and validate an Italian version of the SUPA-Q (SUPAQ-I) in a clinical sample of ED patients.
A mixed-longitudinal study design will be used, with assessments at admission (T0) and discharge (T1) to evaluate the SUPAQ-I's reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change. The sample will include patients aged 16-65 diagnosed with EDs undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. Statistical analyses will include exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and internal consistency will be measured using Cronbach's α and McDonald's Ω indices.
Validating the SUPAQ-I will improve the assessment of activity urges in ED patients, enhancing treatment strategies and outcomes.
age between 16 and 65 years old;
diagnosis of ED as per DSM 5 or DSM-5 TR
BMI* range between 13 and 30 kg/m2 (depending on ED main diagnosis)
for the pediatric population BMI SDS** range is set between -3 and +3 SD from expected BMI for age and sex
presence of other pathologies not associated with ED (i.e., neurodegenerative diseases);
severe psychopathologies other than ED (i.e., schizophrenia)
BMI will be calculated using the following formula: weight (kg)/height (m2) **For the pediatric population, BMI SDS will also be calculated to adjust BMI according to growth curve charts for children and adolescents belonging to the Italian population