Eating Disorders Blog

A new form of bulimia nervosa is getting the attention of medical professionals. Exercise bulimia, also referred to as compulsive exercise, is when an individual binge eats and then uses excessive and compulsive exercise to purge the calories from their bodies.

Exercise bulimics cannot stop themselves from exercising, and use exercise instead of more traditional purging methods associated with bulimia such as self-induced vomiting or laxative abuse.

Robyn Yamanaka, a professional fitness trainer and recovering exercise bulimic was interviewed by CBS News for a story on the eating disorder. She related how her eating disorder "started off innocently, (with workouts) maybe like three or four times a week. ... (But) it got to a point where I was working out three hours a day, if not more. I didn't take a day off for about 6 years. ... I have more health problems than someone who is overweight because I was underweight."

CBS News also spoke with Dr. Maryanne Rosenthal, clinical director of a San Diego-based inpatient treatment center for eating disorders. Dr. Rosenthal commented on the increasing number of cases of exercise bulimia: "I think (exercise bulimia) is becoming epidemic. An exercise bulimic is focused on the ritual of exercising, and that is that method of purging. People think they get a pass because they're not vomiting, they're not taking laxatives, so (they think) they're not really purging. It's very hard to diagnose, because exercise is great right?"

(Source: www.cbsnews.com)

Labels: bulimia, exercise addiction, exercise bulimia

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Compulsive exercise, or exercise addiction, is recognized by many eating disorders experts as a form of disordered eating. Individuals who exercise excessively in order to lose weight can develop what is referred to by some as "anorexia athletica." A new study by scientists at Tufts University indicates that exercise junkies experience many of the same withdrawal symptoms as drug addicts when they stop or are prevented from exercising, including trembling, teeth chattering and drooping eyelids.

In the journal Behavioral Neurology, the Tufts researchers wrote: "Excessive running shares similarities with drug-taking behavior. ... As with food intake and other parts of life, moderation seems to be the key."

(Source: dailymail.co.uk)

Labels: exercise addiction, drug addiction

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Most people know that eating disorders are serious issues. But one aspect of eating disorders that often gets overlooked is exercise addiction. It’s an important factor that can help you recognize that a loved one might have an eating disorder.

Up to 11 million Americans annually suffer from eating disorders, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Of those diagnosed with bulimia, more than 80 percent of them use excessive exercise to control their weight, according to a 1999 study.

Perhaps it starts as a desire to get fit, but it goes too far when you find yourself exercising intensely through injuries, or letting fitness take precedence over other important events in your life. [Source: The Spokesman-Review]

The woman who faithfully participates in a 6pm yoga class isn’t necessarily an exercise addict. If, however, the 6pm class is her third one of the day, and she’s there even when she sick or injured, then there’s a problem.

Labels: exercise, exercise addiction, exercise bulimia

Posted By: CRC Health 1 Comment