Trigger Warning: This article discusses eating disorders.

There is no denying that exercise is good for us; there is also nothing wrong with wanting to eat healthier. However, both exercise and healthy eating habits have the potential to spiral out of control and cause various issues — one of which is eating disorders. 

Just as people can become addicted to substances, people can also become addicted to exercise. An exercise addiction is an unhealthy obsession with physical fitness and activities. It’s often a result of body image disorders and eating disorders. 

An exercise addiction can display itself in seven different ways:  

• Tolerance: increasing the amount of exercise in order to feel the desired effect, be it a “buzz” or sense of accomplishment;

• Withdrawal: in the absence of exercise, the person experiences negative effects such as anxiety, irritability, restlessness, and sleep problems;

• Lack of control: unsuccessful at attempts to reduce exercise level or cease exercising for a certain period of time;

• Intention effects: unable to stick to one’s intended routine as evidenced by exceeding the amount of time devoted to exercise or consistently going beyond the intended amount;

• Time: a great deal of time is spent preparing for, engaging in, and recovering from exercise;

• Reduction in other activities: as a direct result of exercise, social, occupational, and/or recreational activities occur less often or are stopped;

• Continuance: continuing to exercise despite knowing that this activity is creating or exacerbating physical, psychological, and/or interpersonal problems.

Exercise addictions are commonly found in individuals with anorexia nervosa — an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight. 37 percent to 54 percent of patients with anorexia nervosa engage in excessive exercise. 

Exercise addictions are also common among individuals with bulimia nervosa — an eating disorder where people binge-eat large amounts of food, and then purge, trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. 20 percent to 24 percent of patients with bulimia nervosa engage in excessive exercise. 

The following list contains some helpful tips when reintroducing exercise:

• Reject old ideas about exercise.

• Listen to and honor your body.

• Get curious, have fun, and try a new form of exercise.

• Create a safety net of treatment professionals to support you on this journey back to mindful movement. 

• Always be honest about your intentions for movement and if you catch yourself sliding into the old ways of thinking (weight loss, calorie-burning, etc.) tell your support group and consider ceasing the activity until you can approach with the right mindset. 

If you are someone that is recovering from an eating disorder or an exercise addiction, listen to your mental health professional and only begin to exercise again once you have been given permission to do so.

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Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-addiction#symptoms

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210598/

https://www.verywellmind.com/excessive-exercise-eating-disorder-symptom-4062773#citation-6

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia-nervosa/symptoms-causes/syc-20353591

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615

https://memphishealthandfitness.com/eating-disorders-affect-people-of-every-color-gender-size/