In a controlled study at Toronto Hospital in Ontario, Canada, researchers observed that the majority of the of patients with eating disorders reported that competitive sports and exercise served as part of a weight loss plan that contributed to their condition.

Although regular, moderate exercise offers important health benefits such as a reduction in depression, for many people excessive exercise is a common component of an eating disorder, especially with anorexia nervosa. This type of behavior has been dubbed “activity anorexia.” Activity anorexia is a behavior pattern in which a drastic decrease in eating causes progressively more exercise and a further reduction in eating, creating an ongoing cycle.141 Activity anorexia occurs in about 75% of all anorexics and is most common in athletes, many of whom are or have been successful.

Compulsive exercising, while unhealthy and unsafe, is different from activity anorexia in that the compulsive exerciser does not engage in extreme food reduction. Besides that factor, activity anorexia and compulsive exercising are very similar.

The risks with both disorders are physical and emotional. With both activity anorexia and compulsive exercising, the sufferer may see deterioration of their personal relationships or failure at work or school, and many become socially withdrawn.

The physical risks of exercising too much are numerous. Over-exercise can also lead to insomnia, depression, and fatigue. Physical side effects include dehydration, and muscular and skeletal injuries, like shin splits, bone fractures, arthritis, and damage to cartilage and ligaments.

Too much exercise causes an excessive release of free radicals, which have been associated with cellular mutations and cancer. Frequently women cease menstruating, a condition called amenorrhea.

For someone recovering from either activity anorexia or compulsive exercising, it is important to establish and maintain healthy exercise habits designed by a skilled healthcare professional.

To maintain cardiovascular health, there is a limit as to how many calories should be burned each day; 1,200 (for women) and 1,500 (for men). Thirty to forty-five minutes of aerobic exercise a day, five or six days a week is more than sufficient to acquire health benefits. Burning calories above these limits with exercise leads to decreased physical benefits and increased risk of injury. Some of the known injuries from compulsive exercising include anemia, breast implant leakage and the stunting of growth.

To put this in perspective, consider that the body gets health benefits by burning as little as 700 calories per week with aerobic exercise. However, some athletes burn upwards of 5,000 to 6,000 calories per week. When this happens, extra precautions and nutrients must be taken. It should also be noted that 23 to 25% of sportsmen and women are estimated to have eating disorders. Obligatory runners, for example, can do more damage to the body than do anorexic or bulimic women, and share the same dissatisfaction with their bodies.

Therapy is an important component in the battle against over-exercising. To learn more about how I can help or to make an appointment, please call my office .