Abstract:

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the body appreciation and exercise dependence levels of participants according to their physical fitness levels. The study sample consists of 352 volunteers who are active fitness center members in the Bornova district of İzmir. Data were collected by questionnaire method: personal information form for demographic information “International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-Short)” developed by Craig et al. (2003) and its validity and reliability of Turkish version evaluated by Öztürk (2005) “Body Appreciation Scale” developed by Tylka and Wood-Barcalow (2015) and its Turkish validity and reliability evaluated by Anlı and Akın (2015) “Exercise Addiction Scale-21”(EA-21) developed by Hausenblas and Downs (2002a) and its validity and reliability of Turkish version evaluated by Gürbüz and Aşçı (2006) were applied. It was used Kolmogorow-Smirnov Test and Mann Whitney U Test for body appreciation (BA) and exercise dependence (ED) levels of participants according to their physical fitness (FA) levels (1-3) Mann-Whitney U test to determine the difference according to gender Spearman’s Rank Correlation test to evaluate the significant relationship between the parameters. The participants' BA mean score was 4.24 ± 0.65, while time and exercise scores were 2.55 ± 0.95, lack of control score was 2.74 ± 1.11, withdrawal score was 3.00 ± 1.25, tolerance score was 2, 95 ± 1.17, and continuity score was 2.55 ± 1.06. There was a difference between the genders and the groups determined according to FA level only in all EA-21 sub-dimensions. A significant difference was found between low and high FA levels and moderate and high FA levels. There was a significant relationship between all EA sub-dimensions and MET-min values spent during FA (p <0.05). The results show that there is a positive relationship between EA and FA levels, but BA status is independent of FA levels.

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