The study was designed examine the role of BMI, body image inflexibility, and anxiety in relation to eating disorders and exercise dependence in a sample of college students. After controlling for age, gender, and field of study, lower BMI was linked to more exercise dependence symptoms but not significant, while greater BMI was significantly associated with a higher risk of developing eating disorders. Higher body image inflexibility significantly and positively contributed to severe exercise dependence as well as abnormal eating attitudes and behaviours. Anxiety is a significant contributor to exercise dependence symptoms but not eating disorders symptoms. Those who have severer anxiety symptoms should be given more attention when screening for exercise dependence. Body image inflexibility as a common contributor to developing exercise dependence and eating disorders, suggests that the prevention and treatment of these two disorders should involve the improvement of psychological flexibility.
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