Modeling the repetitions-in-reserve-velocity relationship: a valid method for resistance training monitoring and prescription, and fatigue management.

Establishing a relationship between repetitions left in reserve and the mean absolute velocity (RIR-velocity relationship) during resistance training (RT) could allow for objective monitoring, prescription, and real-time adjustment of the training load and set-volume. Therefore, we examined the goodness of fit and prediction accuracy of general and individual RIR-velocity relationships in the free-weight back squat exercise. The effects of sex, training status and history, as well as personality traits, on the goodness of fit and the accuracy of these relationships were also investigated. Forty-six resistance-trained people (15 females and 31 males) performed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test, and two repetitions to failure (RTF) tests 72 h apart. We found greater goodness of fit of individual RIR-velocity relationships compared to general RIR-velocity relationships. Individual, but not general RIR-velocity relationships established in the first testing session yielded acceptable prediction accuracy of RIR (mean error <2 repetitions) in the subsequent testing session, regardless of the load used. Similar results were obtained when both general and individual RIR-velocity relationships were averaged across the loads, suggesting that a single RIR-velocity relationship covering a range of loads can be used instead of traditional RT methods, potentially allowing for better fatigue management and more efficient adaptation.

Development and initial validation of the Multifaceted Instrument for Body Image Disturbance (MI-BoD).

Specific facets of body image disturbance have an important role in eating disorder (ED) onset and maintenance yet have been assessed with single items and/or questionnaires predominantly developed in female samples to capture desire for a thinner body. The aim of this multipart study was to develop the multifaceted instrument for body image disturbance (MI-BoD) that will assess body image disturbance across gender and body size. In Study 1, interviews were conducted with 31 ED lived experience experts (45% females) to develop an initial item pool which was then rated for relevance and clarity by 59 international field experts, shortened and refined by the research team, and then rerated by 20 field experts and 91 ED lived experience experts. Of the 477 items developed from interviews, 46 were retained for the initial validation study. In Study 2, the MI-BoD was administered to undergraduate students (N = 937; 84% females), community adolescents (N = 208; 58% females), and individuals with self-reported ED diagnosis (N = 410; 77% females) to assess its preliminary psychometric properties. Exploratory factor analysis revealed six underlying factors, namely, Dissatisfaction, Overvaluation, Preoccupation, Fear of Weight Gain, Body Checking, and Body Exposure. No differential item functioning was detected for most MI-BoD items across gender, weight status, and ED status (symptomatic vs. asymptomatic). Overall, the MI-BoD showed good internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, concurrent validity, and test-retest reliability. In conclusion, the MI-BoD is a promising tool for assessment of important facets of body image disturbance across gender, body size, and ED symptomatology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

One Velocity Loss Threshold Does Not Fit All: Consideration of Sex, Training Status, History, and Personality Traits When Monitoring and Controlling Fatigue During Resistance Training.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to quantify the potential variability in the volume of work completed after reaching different velocity loss (VL) thresholds and determine the effects of sex, training status and history, as well as psychological traits on the reliability and magnitude of the amount of work completed after reaching different VL thresholds using different loads in the back-squat exercise. METHODS: Forty-six resistance-trained people (15 females and 31 males; 18 to 40 years of age) with a wide range of strength levels, training experience, and different training practices were recruited and performed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test, and two repetitions to failure (RTF) tests 72 h apart. RTF tests were performed with 70, 80, and 90% of 1RM with 10 min of rest between sets. The Bland-Altman analysis for multiple observations per participant and equivalence tests were used to quantify the variability in the volume of work completed after reaching different VL thresholds, whereas linear and generalised mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects of different moderators on the stability and magnitude of the amount of work completed after reaching different VL thresholds. RESULTS: The findings of the present study question the utility of using VL thresholds to prescribe resistance training (RT) volume as the agreement in the amount of work completed across two consecutive testing sessions was not acceptable. Regardless of the load used, females completed more repetitions than males across VL thresholds, while males performed repetitions at higher velocities. In addition, individuals with higher levels of emotional stability also tended to perform more repetitions across VL thresholds. Finally, sex, choice of load, strength levels and training practices, as well as emotional stability affected the linearity of the repetition-velocity relationship and when sets terminated. CONCLUSION: Using the same VL thresholds for all individuals, while assuming generalisability of the stimuli applied, would likely lead to variable acute physiological responses to RT and divergent neuromuscular adaptations over long term. Therefore, VL monitoring practices could be improved by considering sex, training status, history, and psychological traits of individuals due to their effects on the variability in responses to different VL thresholds.

Implementing a velocity-based approach to resistance training: the reproducibility and sensitivity of different velocity monitoring technologies.

This study examined the reproducibility of GymAware, PUSH2 and Vmaxpro velocity monitoring devices during resistance training (RT). The sensitivity of these devices to detect the smallest changes in velocity that correspond to true changes in RT performance was also investigated. Fifty-one resistance-trained men and women performed an incremental loading (1RM) test, and two repetitions to failure tests with different loads, 72 h apart. During all repetitions, mean velocity (MV) and peak velocity (PV) were simultaneously recorded by two devices of each brand. Overall, GymAware was the most reliable and sensitive device for detecting the smallest changes in RT performance, regardless of the velocity metric used. Vmaxpro can be considered as an equivalent, cheaper alternative to GymAware for RT monitoring and prescription, but only if the MV metric is used. Caution should be exercised when using PUSH2 in practice due to their comparatively higher, unacceptable measurement error and generally low sensitivity to detect changes in RT performance. Collectively, these findings support the use of MV and PV from GymAware and MV from Vmaxpro devices for RT monitoring and prescription due to their low magnitudes of error; thus, allowing for the detection of meaningful changes in neuromuscular status and functional performance during RT.

"I don't want them to judge me": Separating out the role of fear of negative evaluation, neuroticism, and low self-esteem in eating disorders.

Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) is a transdiagnostic risk factor that has an important role in eating disorder (ED) onset and maintenance, as well as other psychopathologies. However, no research has explored whether FNE has associations with probable ED status when accounting for related vulnerabilities, and whether this relationship changes across gender and weight status. The current study sought out to explore how FNE explains probable ED status above and beyond heightened neuroticism and low self-esteem, with gender and BMI serving as potential moderators of this relationship. Participants were 910 university students (85 % females) aged 18-26 years (Mage = 19.90; SDage = 2.06) living in Australia, who completed measures of psychological distress, personality, self-esteem, FNE, and ED status. Logistic regression analysis showed that FNE was associated with probable ED status. This relationship was stronger among individuals with underweight and healthy-weight, whilst an interaction with gender was not significant. These findings shed light on the unique role FNE has in probable ED status across gender, which appears to be more pronounced in those with a lower BMI. Therefore, FNE should be considered as a potential target in ED screening and early intervention alongside other important transdiagnostic risk factors.

Velocity loss is a flawed method for monitoring and prescribing resistance training volume with a free-weight back squat exercise.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the goodness of fit, prediction accuracy, and stability of general and individual relationships between velocity loss and the percentage of completed repetitions out of maximum possible (VL-%repetitions) in the free-weight back squat exercise. The effects of sex, training status and history, as well as personality traits, on the goodness of fit and the accuracy of these relationships were also investigated. METHODS: Forty-six resistance-trained people (15 females and 31 males) performed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test, and two repetitions to failure (RTF) tests, 72 h apart. RTF tests were performed with 70, 80, and 90% of 1RM with 10 min inter-set rest. RESULTS: The findings question the utility of using general and individual VL-%repetitions relationships to prescribe training volume with free-weight back squats as (1) the agreement in the %repetitions completed until reaching a given velocity loss threshold across two consecutive testing sessions was unacceptable, regardless of the load used; and (2) the ability of general and individual VL-%repetitions relationships to predict %repetitions in a subsequent testing session were poor (absolute errors > 10%). Sex, training status and history, and personality traits did not affect the goodness of fit of general and individual VL-%repetitions relationships or their prediction accuracy, suggesting potential generalisability of those findings among resistance-trained populations. CONCLUSIONS: VL-%repetitions relationships do not seem to provide any additional benefits compared to costless, traditional methods and hence should not be used for monitoring and prescribing resistance training with a free-weight back squat exercise.

Body image as a multidimensional concept: A systematic review of body image facets in eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia.

Body image disturbance is core to the psychopathology of eating disorders (EDs), and related disorders such as muscle dysmorphia (MD). Global measures of body image fail to quantify specific aspects of body image disturbance that characterizes EDs, and may be differentially associated to outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an overview of specific body image facets and synthesize findings from controlled studies that compared clinical ED/MD and control-comparison groups in body image disturbance. One-hundred sixty-seven studies met inclusion criteria, and reported on comparisons among 30,584 individuals in 28 body image facets, which were more broadly grouped into evaluative, perceptual, cognitive-affective and motivational categories for the purpose of the present review. Effect sizes were calculated as Cohen's d for every comparison between ED and control groups. Body dissatisfaction (evaluative category) was the most prevalent facet assessed across studies (62 %), and differences between clinical and control groups were the largest in this category, especially for bulimia nervosa (d = 1.37). Scarcity of studies with male and MD clinical samples, and use of single-item and non-validated measures, should encourage development of instruments for body image facets pertinent to EDs and MD that can be validly applied across gender.

Identifying components of drive for muscularity and leanness associated with core body image disturbance: A network analysis.

Alongside thin ideals, internalizing muscular and/or lean body ideals is associated with eating disorder (ED) symptomatology, especially among males. However, assessment of drive for muscularity (DM) and drive for leanness (DL) also captures attitudes and behaviors that are normative in the general population. The aim of this study was to identify components of DM and DL that are independently linked to core body image disturbance in EDs-shape/weight dissatisfaction, overvaluation ,and fear of weight gain-in community adolescents using network analysis. A representative sample of 4,975 Australian adolescents (53% females, Mage = 14.92) from Wave 1 of the EveryBODY study was included in the analyses. We estimated regularized and unregularized networks, identified communities of items, estimated bridge centrality between communities, and explored sex differences in network structure and connectivity with a Network Comparison Test. Results showed that items "feeling better about oneself if having a lean body" and "wishing to be muscular" had the highest bridge centralities, and network structures of male and females did not significantly differ. Importantly, some components of DM were negatively associated with body image disturbance. These findings suggest that, when investigating the role of DL and DM in EDs, it would be useful to further assess these constructs as multifaceted since relationships between these phenomena are likely more nuanced than previously speculated. Development and subsequent use of instruments for certain behaviors and/or attitudes more specifically associated with body image disturbance might be more informative than somewhat artificially confined focus on either thinness, leanness, or muscularity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The distinct role of body image aspects in predicting eating disorder onset in adolescents after one year.

Recent research suggests specific body image aspects, namely weight/shape dissatisfaction, overvaluation of weight/shape, weight/shape preoccupation, and fear of weight gain, have distinct roles in eating disorder (ED) onset and maintenance. The aim of this study was to investigate unique associations between these body image aspects and ED onset, distress, and quality of life in a community sample of adolescents prospectively after 1 year. Adolescents (n = 1,327; 51% female; age range 11-19 years) who completed Waves 1 and 2 of the EveryBODY Study and did not meet criteria for an ED at Wave 1 completed measures of ED symptoms, distress, and quality of life impairment. Results showed that 18.2% of participants (70% female) met criteria for an ED at Wave 2. Only weight/shape dissatisfaction was prospectively associated with onset of any ED. No other body image aspect was uniquely associated with greater distress nor lower quality of life in longitudinal analyses. However, all body image aspects were independent correlates of ED diagnosis within Wave 2. These findings suggest that dissatisfaction might operate as a risk factor for ED development in adolescence, whereas overvaluation, preoccupation, and fear of weight gain could be more proximal markers of ED psychopathology. Therefore, these body image phenomena should be assessed as separate constructs as they may play unique roles in ED onset and classification. ED prevention efforts in adolescence may need to target dissatisfaction first, whereas a focus on other aspects of body image may be more important for early intervention programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Development and validation of the Croatian version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in a community sample.

PURPOSE: The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is one of the most commonly used tools for identification of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Croatian version of the EDE-Q 6.0. METHODS: Participants were 279 individuals from a community sample (215 females; 64 males) with an average age of 24.61 ± 5.68 years. The Eating Attitudes Test-26 and Body Image Satisfaction Scale were used to determine the convergent validity of the EDE-Q. Four-, three-, two-, and single-factor models were tested, together with a brief 8-item version of the EDE-Q. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a better fit of the original four-factor model when compared to other models, although the best model-data fit was obtained when testing subscales individually with correlations between factors ranging from 0.30 to 0.99. However, item 10 had to be excluded from the shape concern subscale to reach an acceptable fit. Correlation analyses showed that the EDE-Q has good convergent validity, but additional calculations discovered its tendency to overestimate ED symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to show satisfactory psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the EDE-Q with minor modifications of the original questionnaire. The Croatian translation and validation of the EDE-Q enables researchers and clinicians in Croatia to employ the most widely and commonly used instrument for the assessment of core ED features. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Descriptive cross-sectional study, Level V.

Further development of the 12-item EDE-QS: identifying a cut-off for screening purposes.

BACKGROUND: The Eating Disorder Examination - Questionnaire Short (EDE-QS) was developed as a 12-item version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) with a 4-point response scale that assesses eating disorder (ED) symptoms over the preceding 7 days. It has demonstrated good psychometric properties at initial testing. The purpose of this brief report is to determine a threshold score that could be used in screening for probable ED cases in community settings. METHODS: Data collected from Gideon et al. (2016) were re-analyzed. In their study, 559 participants (80.86% female; 9.66% self-reported ED diagnosis) completed the EDE-Q, EDE-QS, SCOFF, and Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA). Discriminatory power was compared between ED instruments using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. RESULTS: A score of 15 emerged as the threshold that ensured the best trade-off between sensitivity (.83) and specificity (.85), and good positive predictive value (.37) for the EDE-QS, with discriminatory power comparable to other ED instruments. CONCLUSION: The EDE-QS appears to be an instrument with good discriminatory power that could be used for ED screening purposes.

Reactions to ideal body shapes.

Difficult-to-attain beauty standards that are promulgated by the media could contribute to body dissatisfaction, but their potential impact upon body image remains unclear. The present study examined reactions to thin-ideal and muscular-ideal images, and examined the effects of ideal image exposure on preferred body shape and time spent deliberating about ideal shape. In a 2 × 2 experimental design, 200 Internet users completed the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) and were randomly assigned to view idealistic body images or houses (and rated them on semantic differential dimensions). Females viewed thin ideal images and males viewed muscular ideal images, while the control groups viewed images of houses. Between group measures analysis of variance revealed women reacted negatively to thinspirational images. Women were more driven for thinness and idealized a thinner shape for the female body than men. Psychologically distressed participants had a stronger drive for thinness and greater body dissatisfaction compared to low-distress participants. In addition, although beauty ideal imagery had no significant impact on males, females spent more time in choosing ideal body figure. Viewing thin bodies for females created a trend toward desiring a slimmer figure, as well as increased preoccupation with size as they spent more time deliberating over a photorealistic figure rating scale. Therefore, exposure to thinspiration promotes dissatisfaction with self and leads women to dwell more upon their body image.

Engagement with MyFitnessPal in eating disorders: Qualitative insights from online forums.

OBJECTIVE: Using calorie-counting and fitness-tracking technologies is concerning in relation to eating disorders. While studies in this area typically assess one aspect of use (e.g., frequency), engagement with a device or application is more complex. Consequently, important relationships between the use of these technologies and the eating disorder symptomatology might remain undetected. The current study therefore used comments from online eating disorder-related forums to generate comprehensive qualitative insights into engagement with a popular calorie-counting and fitness-tracking application, MyFitnessPal. METHOD: First, we extracted every comment mentioning MyFitnessPal made on three eating disorder-related forums between May 2015 and January 2018 (1,695 comments from 920 commenters). Then, we conducted an inductive thematic analysis using these comments to identify important aspects of engagement with MyFitnessPal. RESULTS: The analyses resulted in three themes: Preventing misuse, describing ways in which MyFitnessPal attempts to prevent pathological use and actions taken by users to circumvent its interventions; Accuracy, outlining distrust of MyFitnessPal's accuracy and ways in which perceived inaccuracy is reduced or compensated for; and Psychosocial factors, comprising cognitive, behavioral, and social factors that influence, or are influenced by, engagement with MyFitnessPal. DISCUSSION: The qualitative insights provide a detailed overview of how people with high levels of eating disorder symptomatology likely engage with MyFitnessPal. The insights can be used as a basis to develop valid, quantitative assessment of pathological patterns of engagement with calorie-counting and fitness-tracking technologies. The findings can also provide clinicians with insight into how their patients likely engage with, and are affected by, these devices and applications.

How Perfectionism and Eating Disorder Symptoms Contribute to Searching Weight-Loss Information on the Internet?

Background and Objectives: Eating disorder (ED) symptoms are a growing problem and modern technologies introduced a new and unexplored potential risk factor for vulnerable individuals. It is fairly common for women to use the Internet in order to find information about various weight-loss methods, but it was further questioned whether perfectionism and eating disorder symptomatology could be linked to this behavior. Materials and Methods: Participants were 228 women (Mean age = 30.5; SD = 9.43) recruited via social media, who provided responses on measures of perfectionism, eating disorder symptoms, and a short check-list measuring the frequency of online searching about five topics (food, diet, exercise, body appearance, and eating disorders). Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that the BMI and Discrepancy subscale of APS-R significantly predicted online searching, along with eating disorder symptomatology. Moreover, mediation analyses resulted in a significant indirect effect, but not a direct effect, indicating that eating disorder symptomatology fully mediated the relationship between BMI and online searching, as well as between maladaptive perfectionism and online searching. Conclusion: These findings shed light on a high BMI and maladaptive perfectionism as potential risk factors for eating disorder-related behavior on the Internet. More attention to online-seeking behavior among women symptomatic of ED is warranted, and websites containing such topics should include information about professional help for eating disorder-symptomatic individuals.

The Importance of Fundamental Motor Skills in Identifying Differences in Performance Levels of U10 Soccer Players.

This study examined the differences in fundamental motor skills (FMSs) and specific conditioning capacities (SCCs) between a coach's classification of first team (FT) and second team (ST) U10 soccer players and examined the most important qualities based on how the coach differentiates them. The FT (n = 12; Mage = 9.72 ± 0.41) and ST (n = 11; Mage = 9.57 ± 0.41) soccer players were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2, standing long jump, sit and reach, diverse sprints, and the 20 m multistage fitness test (MSFT). The coach's subjective evaluation of players was obtained using a questionnaire. No significant differences existed between the FT and ST in any variables (p > 0.05). However, large and moderate effect sizes were present in favour of the FT group in locomotor skills (d = 0.82 (0.08, 1.51)), gross motor quotient (d = 0.73 (0.00, 1.41)), height (d = 0.61 (-0.12, 1.29)), MSFT (d = 0.58 (-0.14, 1.25)), and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) (d = 0.55 (-0.17, 1.22)). Furthermore, the coach perceived the FT group as having greater technical and tactical qualities relative to ST players. This suggests that it might be more relevant for players of this age to develop good FMS connected to technical skills, before focusing on SCC. Therefore, it might be beneficial for soccer coaches to emphasize the development of FMSs due to their potential to identify talented young soccer players and because they underpin the technical soccer skills that are required for future soccer success.

Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review.

Physique athletes strive for low body fat with high lean mass and have higher body image and eating disorder rates than the general population, and even other weightlifting populations. Whether athletes with a background or tendency to develop these issues are drawn to the sport, or whether it drives these higher incidences, is unknown. However, the biological drive of cyclical energy restriction may contribute to binge-eating behavior. Additionally, requisite monitoring, manipulation, comparison, and judgement of one's physique may contribute to body image concerns. Contest preparation necessitates manipulating body composition through energy restriction and increased expenditure, requiring dietary restraint and nutrition, exercise, and physique assessment. Thus, competitors are at mental health risk due to (1) pre-existing or predispositions to develop body image or eating disorders; (2) biological effects of energy restriction on eating psychology; and (3) dietary restraint attitudes and resultant physique, exercise, and nutrition monitoring behavior. In our narrative review we cover each factor, concluding with tentative best-practice recommendations, including dietary flexibility, slower weight loss, structured monitoring, gradual returns to offseason energy intakes, internal eating cues, appropriate offseason body compositions, and support from nutrition and mental health professionals. A mental health focus is a needed paradigm shift in bodybuilding nutrition practice and research.

Perfectionism, Body Satisfaction and Dieting in Athletes: The Role of Gender and Sport Type.

Athletes are often at a greater risk for disordered eating development due to their perfectionistic tendencies, as well as physical performance- and appearance-related demands of various sports in which they compete. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of independent contributions of perfectionism and body satisfaction on dieting behaviour among male and female athletes. Two-hundred-eighty (192 male; 88 female) athletes provided their answers on the Eating Attitudes Test 26 (EAT-26), Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS) and modified Body Image Satisfaction Scale from Body Image and Body Change Inventory. No gender or sport type differences were observed in dieting behaviour and body satisfaction was the only significant predictor of dieting for female athletes. Mediation analysis demonstrated that body satisfaction is a mediator between both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism and dieting. These findings emphasize the important role that body satisfaction has in disordered eating development in female athletes.