Eating disorders linked to exercise addiction
Exercise addiction was defined as having an obsessive
approach to fitness that could have a negative impact on someone’s health and
social life. “It is known that those with eating disorders are more likely to
display addictive personality and obsessive-compulsive behaviours,” said study
lead author Mike Trott of Anglia Ruskin University in the UK.
“We are also
aware that having an unhealthy relationship with food often means an increased
amount of exercising, but this is the first time that a risk factor has been
calculated,” Trott added. The study, published in Eating and Weight Disorders,
drew on data from nine studies covering a total of 2,140 people with a mean age
of 25.
The researchers found that people displaying
characteristics of an eating disorder are 3.7 times more likely to suffer from
addiction to exercise than people displaying no indication of an eating
disorder. “It is not uncommon to want to improve our lifestyles by eating
healthier and doing more exercise, particularly at the start of the year.
However, it is important to moderate this behaviour and not fall victim to
‘crash diets’ or anything that eliminates certain foods entirely, as these can
easily lead to eating disorders,” Trott said.
According to the researchers, the study shows that
displaying signs of an eating disorder significantly increases the chance of an
unhealthy relationship with exercise, and this can have negative consequences,
including mental health issues and injury. “Health professionals working with
people with eating disorders should consider monitoring exercise levels as a
priority, as this group have been shown to suffer from serious medical
conditions as a result of excessive exercise, such as fractures, increased rates
of cardiovascular disease in younger patients, and increased overall
mortality,” Trott concluded.
03.02.2020
Never say “I can’t” when “You can” is right in front of you
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