Treatment of compulsive exercise in eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia: protocol for a systematic review

Abstract Background Compulsive exercise is a core feature of both eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia. Earlier models treatment recommended complete abstinence from in disorder populations, but recent guidelines advocate for the gradual inclusion healthier forms into an overall plan where appropriate. Given association between problematic behaviour poorer prognosis, there has been upsurge number interventions compulsive disorders. However, no systematic review published summarising this existing literature. The aim to determine efficacy treatments Methods A will be conducted according Preferred Reporting Items Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five electronic databases (PsycInfo, MEDLINE, Embase, Web Science, Scopus) searched database inception until November 2020. We include studies that: (a) sampled adolescents and/or adults with either or dysmorphia; (b) assessed changes pre- post-intervention; (c) used standardised instrument measure related constructs. comparison group (e.g., randomised controlled trials) without pilot case studies) provide comprehensive overview One reviewer screen all titles abstracts against eligibility criteria, 20% excluded articles cross-referenced by another reviewer. Full texts obtained deemed relevant was uncertain, screened reviewers. also evaluate quality included using modified Downs Black (J Epidemiol Community Health 52:377–384, 1998) assessment checklist. Discussion Results help most efficacious components hope that our results inform clinical practice recommending targeted exercise.