Understanding Excessive Exercise as part of an Eating Disorder
3. Understanding who might exercise excessively
Look at the image of people doing exercise. Who do you think might have a problem with excessive exercise as part of an eating disorder?
The answer is: It could be any of them who might have a problem with excessive exercise as part of an eating disorder.
Appearance, weight, shape or size is not an indicator for someone who may exercise excessively as part of an eating disorder. Neither is their gender, sexuality, ethnicity or age.
Anyone can develop an eating disorder and exercise excessively as part of it. This is regardless of gender, age and body size or shape.
We very often have preconceptions of who might be likely to develop an eating disorder. Rather than focussing solely on someone’s shape or size, try to LISTEN to how someone talks about exercise and eating. It doesn’t always have to mean that someone has an issue but there are ways of talking that may tell you that someone’s more likely to struggle.
I NEED to exercise to
...“lose” or “control” weight.
“not feel so guilty about eating."
...“earn food."
