5. Understanding Eating Disorders and Excessive Exercise

There’s a lot of research in this field.

As part of a much wider picture, here are some key research findings that give you insights into further links between eating disorders and excessive exercise.

Read through the following findings on the prevalence of excessive exercise as part of an eating disorder, and the effect that this can have.

All reference links are available at the end in the resources section.

Those with eating disorders are as much as 3.5 times more likely to experience a need to exercise excessively compared to those without eating disorders. Whilst those who take part in regular exercise at the gym report higher levels of disordered eating. (Trott, et al 2020).
The likelihood of eating disorder behaviour rises in groups who take part in endurance and strength/power sports, due to the pressures surrounding weight and shape. (Sundgot-Borgen et al., 2013).
In people with eating disorders, unhealthy exercise/compulsive exercise can lead to: lower quality of life, longer inpatient hospitalisations, greater suicidal behaviour, and increased risk of relapse. (Meyer et al, 2011).
Multiple factors link excessive exercise and eating disorders, such as perfectionism, and weight and shape concern. They often reinforce one another, making it harder to stop. (Meyer, et al, 2011).