Getting 30 minutes of exercise on a daily basis is a practice recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but getting more exercise daily doesn't necessarily mean you're a healthier person. In fact, exercising obsessively could be the sign of a dangerous eating disorder and can lead to extreme weight loss and injury. Knowing the difference between a healthy lifestyle and compulsive exercise makes it easier to recognize the warning signs to get help when you need it most.
Compulsive Exercise
Definite behavior separates the exercise enthusiast from an obsessive compulsive exerciser. Someone who exercises compulsively does so every day despite any setbacks such as weather, other engagements, injuries or circumstances. Once an exerciser stops choosing to exercise and begins exercising out of compulsion, it becomes an addiction. Obsessive exercise is often accompanied by dangerous eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, making exercise an unhealthy expenditure of already drastically reduced caloric intake.
Dangers and Warnings
Since exercise is touted as a way to stay healthy, it's difficult to draw the line between healthy and unhealthy fitness. The dangers of obsessive exercise are what separate a healthy habit from an unhealthy compulsion. Someone who exercises obsessively causes damage to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and even bones in the body from overtraining and overuse. Excess stress is also placed on the heart, particularly if you also suffer from an eating disorder and aren't healthy enough for physical activity. Obsessive exercise is also a mental problem, making you feel anxious and stressed when you aren't able to exercise throughout the day.
Recognize the Signs
When you begin to become preoccupied with your weight and opportunities to exercise throughout the day, you could be a compulsive exerciser. The need to constantly move and push your body, even in the face of injury or fatigue, means you no longer have a healthy relationship with exercise. Exercise takes over your life, taking the place of other fulfilling activities, such as spending time with family and friends. Even vast weight loss and fitness achievements don't bring you happiness, so you continue to push your body to the point of excess.
Getting Help
If you've identified your actions as obsessive exercise, visiting with a therapist is often necessary. It's important to discover the triggers for your need to exercise, such as feeling judged, eating certain foods or looking at fitness and health magazines. If you're also suffering from an eating disorder, clinical help is necessary to treat both conditions concurrently. With professional help, it's possible to wean yourself from excessive exercise to help create a healthier relationship with fitness.
References
- KidsHealth.org; Compulsive Exercise; Mary L. Gavin; October 2010
- "The New York Times"; Fit Is One Thing; Obsessive Exercise Is Another; Jane E. Brody; August 2005
- National Women's Health Network; Disordered Eating and Obsessive Exercise: The Dangerous Cycle; Heather Arsenault; January-February 2009
- Association for Body Image Disordered Eating; Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Exercise?; Carolyn Costin
