When Too Much Exercise Becomes a Problem

Compulsive Exercise and Exercise Bulimia

-- By Leanne Beattie, Health and Fitness Writer

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Regular exercise is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and sound weight-loss program. In fact, most experts suggest that we get 60 minutes of exercise each day for optimal health. But while a little exercise is a good thing, taking exercise to the extreme can cause serious health issues, even death. When few adults exercise regularly, and many struggle to find just 20 minutes to dedicate to a workout, it may be hard to believe that some people place exercise at the center of their lives. But some people feel compelled to exercise above and beyond normal levels, often in a desperate attempt to burn every calorie they consume.

Compulsive exercise is more than a desire to get in the ultimate shape or manage one's weight. Sufferers of exercise bulimia use excessive exercise to purge or compensate for eating binges or simply regular eating, often working out multiple times per day or for three or four hours at a time. Deep down, this disorder has more to do with control than it does the desire to fit into a smaller size of jeans.

The scary thing about an addiction to exercise is that it creeps up gradually, usually among everyday people who start exercising, feel good afterward, revel in the calories they're burning, have a desire to get healthier or lose weight, and therefore start believing that more is better. Oftentimes, people who develop an exercise compulsion don't feel like there's anything wrong with what they do. They think that what they're doing is healthy, and can't understand how others don't see it that way.

Compulsive Exercise Vs. Exercise Bulimia: What's the Difference?
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, compulsive exercise and exercise bulimia are two different things.

Compulsive exercisers build their lives around working out and are genuinely distressed if they can't exercise as much as they feel they need to (or should be). Exercise bulimia is similar, but involves eating binges. People who suffer from exercise bulimia often binge on food and then exercise obsessively to make up for it. Exercise becomes a way to control calories, justify eating, and punish oneself for eating too much or eating the "wrong" things.

Both conditions are indicated by the following symptoms:

Choosing to exercise instead of going to work or enjoying social activities with friends or loved ones
Refusing to take any rest or recovery days, even when injured
Continuing to exercise even when ill
Exercising to the point of exhaustion
Never exercising for fun
Experiencing severe stress and emotional upset, including depression, if unable to exercise
Obsession with calories eaten and calories burned
Preoccupation with burning calories throughout the day, even when not exercising

How Much is Too Much?
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About The Author

Leanne Beattie
A freelance writer, marketing consultant and life coach, Leanne often writes about health and nutrition. See all of Leanne's articles.

Member Comments

MAGGI1986

good article, we often aim so much for perfection that we get lost in the process, so many issues with weight/ weight control start from within, I really feel for those who struggle. Its a silent killer... - 8/23/2012 9:26:17 AM
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C-MERRIE11

As someone who's suffered from this before, I think this article is on the money, a good warning for every and anyone. I can now take sick days and down days, and don't freak out if I can't make a workout because of other demands, but I remember the dark days when that wasn't the case, when there was never enough exercise I could do. I'm glad this article reminds me people that even with all the good exercise does, it too can be abused. Take care Sparkers! :) - 12/2/2010 11:12:47 AM
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MOMKAT4310

I used to work with a woman who fit the description of exercise bulimia. One of her demons was chocolate. She would eat 2 pounds in a morning at work, then exercise like crazy on her lunch hour and after work. She was able to mask part of this because we worked in the fitness center of a major university. And she was slim, so no one was paying too much attention. I found her to be very sad. Her description of her relationship with her spouse and son was dysfunctional. Then I met her dog. This lady was feeding the dog one chocolate for every one she ate at home. This beautiful young black lab, just over a year old, was so obese she could barely walk. The dog did not have the compulsion to work out, chocolate is not good for dogs, and the whole situation was just so sad. Like any eating disorder, there are multiple issues, and much help is needed to deal with them. Acknowledging the problem is a start, but help is needed over the long run of life. My best wishes to anyone dealing with the pain of any eating disorder. - 9/22/2010 10:02:24 PM
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MRS_4EVER_AFTER

I have recently gone through treatment of Exercise Bulimia along with another ED. It's a very serious and scary disease and one that takes a long time to fully recover from. I still battle the fitness demons. The horrible things it did to my body, things that can never fully heal. And like the article said, it does creep up on you and more often than not, accompanies other EDs and it rarely the only ED present. - 9/9/2010 4:46:41 PM
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JIBBIE49

Exercise bulimia sounds like a really stupid term, since Bulimia is a life threatening disorder from the trauma done to the throat and imbalance in electrolytes. - 9/1/2010 10:57:02 PM
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JMAC23

This was interesting to read. I knew about compulsive exercising but I had never heard of exercise bulimia. - 8/29/2010 10:12:05 PM
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LIVINGONMYTERMS

Wow! That was a good article and very informative. I thought it was just a form of OCD. I never thought about it as being bulemic and never heard of this until now. Thanks SP! - 8/27/2010 1:36:11 PM
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AVOVATA

I had exercise bulimia when I was a teenager, although I didn't know it was called that. I remember wondering if I was bulimic, because I recognized I was bingeing, but I told myself I was okay since I wasn't throwing up.
I haven't "dieted" or worked out since, as I worried about returning to that obsession. I haven't even owned a scale until last month. So, I eventually became the thing I feared most, overweight.
Fortunately, I am not the same insecure person that I was then. I may not be completely happy with every part of my body, but I'm happy with me, and I can appreciate myself. I am gentle with myself.
I'm happy I found SP to motivate me to become the person I always wanted to be. - 8/24/2010 11:05:14 AM
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OLDERNBETTER1

This is a very important article. I have met many people who have one of these conditions, and it is very difficult to get them to accurately view their behaviors as unhealthy, because they get positive reenforcement from people around them, such as "I wish I looked like you." I hope readers will question themselves while reading the article, and reach out for help if they think they have the symptoms. - 8/24/2010 9:31:04 AM
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COACHPENNY

This is quite interesting because I teach water fitness and swimming in addition to maintaining a pretty active lifestyle. My fitness minutes often look out of line for what is considered "normal". I had to adjust my caloric intake to make sure my nutrition is inline with what I burn.

More doesn't always mean better. Finding the time and ways to change up my routine takes effort. Because my body is used to what I do, it needs to be challenged in different ways....outside of work. - 8/24/2010 6:29:05 AM
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