Eating Disorders in Athletes | Signs of Compulsive & Excessive Exercise
Compulsive exercise is often termed excessive exercise and is characterized by an increased need to physically perform activities. Compulsive exercise may help relieve emotional distress, or to cope with difficult thought processes. It often takes place no matter the injury, illness, lack of nutrients or energy and may feel uncontrollable.
When Excessive Exercise Becomes a Problem
Another complication making the diagnosis of exercise complicity hard is the widespread tenets of diet culture, which often glorified exercising in extreme ways as a way of losing weight. In casual chats we hear phrases like, "I am gonna need to take the meal to the gym." Indeed, many of our symptoms of excessive physical activity are acknowledged in society today. This mindset can lead to an unhealthy relationship with exercise compulsion as well as eating disorders. Eating disorder therapy can help individuals break these patterns and build a balanced, sustainable relationship with exercise and food.
Warning Signs of Over Exercise and Eating Disorders in Athletes
Recognizing compulsive exercisers can sometimes be difficult due to diet culture's view on exercise, which often leads to a healthy lifestyle.
Those who are struggling with excessive exercise often struggle to take breaks or days off. This can look like intense anxiety around rest days, rigid exercise regimen, and relative energy deficiency symptoms. This compulsive behavior can lead to negative consequences such as injuries like shin splints, tendinosis, stress fractures, RED-S, and other medical complications.
Symptoms of Over Exercising
A person with excessive exercise may suffer several negative physical symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and reduced performance.
Almost 40% of those with anorexia nervosa engage in compulsive exercise. Symptoms of overtraining can also look like lethargy and exhaustion despite a regular lifestyle, or difficulty recovering from injuries, or regular soreness from workouts.
Eating Disorders and Exercise Compulsion Often Go Unnoticed in Sports
When we see compulsive exercise, we often see negative body image, difficulty with mental health, and disordered eating. With this intense focus to detail, excellence, and perfection, when someone is struggling with exercise dependence, eating disorders are usually nearby. Eating disorders for these athletes are often misdirected as it can look like dedication to their sport. Unfortunately, the result is often overuse injuries, forcing folks to take time off.
Studies show that more than half of college female athletes exhibit disorders in their eating habits. Another study revealed that 40% of anorexia nervosa patients had a tendency to exercise regularly.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Eating disorders and compulsive exercise are often linked to compulsive behaviors such as perfectionism, ruminating thoughts, and anxiety.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions/compulsions induced by certain stimuli that cause considerable distress when these compulsions cannot remain. Compulsive exercise has commonalities in terms of the desire for exercise and serious distress when deficient from exercise.
Obsession that accompanies compulsively exhibited behaviors can be considered similar to the thoughts of an exercise addict. “If I do not exercise, I'll lose strength." This mindset makes compassionate mental health support essential for breaking the cycle and fostering a healthier approach to exercise.
What is Overtraining Syndrome?
Overtraining syndrome occurs in athletes who do not recover from prolonged intense exercise, and includes fatigue, decreased performance, and possible injuries.
Unfortunately, there is not yet an accepted definition for overtraining. However, it is seen as accumulation of training or non-training stress leading to an indefinite decrease in performance capacity and a loss of physiological or mental capacity.
Compulsive Exercise or Overtraining?
The biggest difference between compulsive exercising versus overtraining syndrome/overreaching is that compulsive exercise does not always have negative physical effects. Compulsive exercise, however, can lead to overtraining syndrome. Compulsive exercise is usually seen alongside disordered eating or an eating disorder, making it crucial to seek support. An eating disorder therapist can help individuals identify unhealthy exercise patterns and build a balanced, healthy approach to movement.
Challenges: Treatment
In the therapeutic context, there are challenges relating to compliance and motivation to change compulsive exercise behaviors. There is no diagnosis for compulsive exercising in the diagnostic and statistical manual, used to diagnose mental disorders, leading to diagnosis and treatment to be difficult for mental health professionals, as well as sports medicine doctors.
Possible treatment difficulties of compulsive exercisers are also a low level of compliance with reducing exercise. Compulsive exercise may lead to injury and a mental health professional should meet with athletes over-training.
As compulsive exercise rarely occurs without symptoms of an eating disorder, it has usually been treated similarly to food disorders. During the treatment, the treatment team, consisting of a sports medicine doctor, therapist, and dietitian, will examine all the possible consequences of compulsively exercising. In such circumstances one would often also consult with physical therapists or recovery specialists.
Overall, it is common for exercisers to learn about the ways to overcome unhelpful behaviors in their daily lives, in order to reduce harmful consequences.
How to Begin Eating Disorder Therapy in New Jersey & Throughout Pennsylvania
If you or someone you care about is struggling with an eating disorder, know that help is available. Disordered eating can feel isolating, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. We’re here to make the process as smooth as possible. As an eating disorder therapist in Cherry Hill, NJ, I am committed to helping individuals rebuild a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. Take the first step toward healing by following these simple steps:
Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore your needs
Schedule your first eating disorder therapy session for tailored support
Step into a compassionate space where you can heal and grow as an athlete.
Additional Therapy Services Provided by an Eating Disorder Therapist in NJ
As a compassionate eating disorder therapist in NJ, I offer personalized therapy for athletes and provide family-based support for parents navigating their child’s recovery. Additionally, I specialize in treating runners struggling with disordered eating, addressing their unique challenges.
I actively raise awareness about eating disorders through speaking engagements and lead a support group for retired athletes, supporting their journey to a healthier relationship with food and body image.
About the Author: A Trusted Eating Disorder Therapist in New Jersey
Kate Ringwood is a licensed professional counselor and the founder of Serendipity Counseling Services. With a strong foundation in both nutrition and mental health counseling, along with personal experience as a recovered athlete, Kate is deeply committed to helping others on their path to eating disorder recovery. She specializes in supporting individuals as they navigate the unique challenges of recovery while maintaining their identities as athletes.
