Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsComplicationsCauses and Risk FactorsTreatmentsRecovery and Relapse
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Complications
Causes and Risk Factors
Treatments
Recovery and Relapse
While there is no official medical diagnosis called “exercise bulimia,” it is often considered a subtype of bulimia nervosa.
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Main Symptoms: Binging and Purging Through Exercise
Thepurgecycle involvesover-exercisingto purge excess calories consumed while binging.
Warning signs of excessive exercise include:
Some people with exercise bulimia may still purge or use laxatives after eating.
What Is Purging Disorder?
Exercise Bulimia vs. Bulimia NervosaBulimia nervosa is a diagnosable eating disorder that involves periods of binging and purging.While “exercise bulimia” is not an official medical term, it does refer to a subtype of bulimia nervosa, which involves overeating and then purging through excessive exercise instead of vomiting or inducing diarrhea associated with bulimia nervosa.
Exercise Bulimia vs. Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a diagnosable eating disorder that involves periods of binging and purging.While “exercise bulimia” is not an official medical term, it does refer to a subtype of bulimia nervosa, which involves overeating and then purging through excessive exercise instead of vomiting or inducing diarrhea associated with bulimia nervosa.
Excessive exercise puts a lot of stress on the body and mind. Physically, it can lead to complications like:
Overexercise can impact your mental health and signal complications related to disordered eating. An estimated 22% to 80% of people with all types ofeating disordersengage in dysfunctional exercise, which can lead to complications such as:
The research on exercise bulimia is limited since it’s not considered a formal diagnosis,but reasons someone may turn to overexercise have been explored.
In one study, compulsive exercising was associated with factors such as:
There are known causes and risk factors for eating disorders and excessive exercise behaviors, discussed below. Here are many known risk factors for eating disorders. Some of these include:
Since exercise bulimia could be considered a subtype of bulimia nervosa, it involves similar treatments but with a focus on excessive exercise behavior.Eating disorder treatmentinvolves different levels of care. Some people can be treated within the community, whereas others may require an inpatient stay.
You’ll likely have to completely stop exercising for a period before rebuilding your relationship with exercise.
Early intervention is vital to prevent complications. You’ll work with a team of healthcare providers, such as physicians, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and physical therapists who have experience in excessive exercise and eating disorder treatment.
Relearning how to exercise gently, healthily, and appropriately is a main part of recovery from exercise bulimia.
Although you’ll likely have to stop exercising during treatment, it’s possible to resume exercising in the future. However, dissecting your motivations for exercise will take a lot of inner work. Your team of healthcare providers can help.
Treatment and recovery aims to help you foster a healthier and more positive relationship with exercise. In addition to reducing the frequency and intensity of your exercise routine, you may also find it helpful to change the type of exercise you do to avoid triggers.
Approximately one-third of people with eating disorders of any kind relapse.If this happens to you, know that you’re not alone and are not a failure. Seeking help again may feel challenging, but your future self and health will thank you. It’s possible to have a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and body image.
Summary
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mond JM.Classification of bulimic-type eating disorders: from DSM-IV to DSM-5.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2013;1(1):33. doi:10.1186/2050-2974-1-33American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR).National Eating Disorders Association.Excessive exercise.Quesnel DA, Cooper M, Fernandez-del-Valle M, Reilly A, Calogero RM.Medical and physiological complications of exercise for individuals with an eating disorder: a narrative review.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2023;11(1):3. doi:10.1186/s40337-022-00685-9Lichtenstein MB, Hinze CJ, Emborg B, Thomsen F, Hemmingsen SD.Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:85-95. doi:10.2147%2FPRBM.S113093National Eating Disorders Association.Risk factors.Sala M, Keshishian A, Song S, et al.Predictors of relapse in eating disorders: a meta-analysis.Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2023;158:281-299. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.002
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mond JM.Classification of bulimic-type eating disorders: from DSM-IV to DSM-5.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2013;1(1):33. doi:10.1186/2050-2974-1-33American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR).National Eating Disorders Association.Excessive exercise.Quesnel DA, Cooper M, Fernandez-del-Valle M, Reilly A, Calogero RM.Medical and physiological complications of exercise for individuals with an eating disorder: a narrative review.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2023;11(1):3. doi:10.1186/s40337-022-00685-9Lichtenstein MB, Hinze CJ, Emborg B, Thomsen F, Hemmingsen SD.Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:85-95. doi:10.2147%2FPRBM.S113093National Eating Disorders Association.Risk factors.Sala M, Keshishian A, Song S, et al.Predictors of relapse in eating disorders: a meta-analysis.Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2023;158:281-299. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.002
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mond JM.Classification of bulimic-type eating disorders: from DSM-IV to DSM-5.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2013;1(1):33. doi:10.1186/2050-2974-1-33American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR).National Eating Disorders Association.Excessive exercise.Quesnel DA, Cooper M, Fernandez-del-Valle M, Reilly A, Calogero RM.Medical and physiological complications of exercise for individuals with an eating disorder: a narrative review.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2023;11(1):3. doi:10.1186/s40337-022-00685-9Lichtenstein MB, Hinze CJ, Emborg B, Thomsen F, Hemmingsen SD.Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:85-95. doi:10.2147%2FPRBM.S113093National Eating Disorders Association.Risk factors.Sala M, Keshishian A, Song S, et al.Predictors of relapse in eating disorders: a meta-analysis.Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2023;158:281-299. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.002
Mond JM.Classification of bulimic-type eating disorders: from DSM-IV to DSM-5.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2013;1(1):33. doi:10.1186/2050-2974-1-33
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR).
National Eating Disorders Association.Excessive exercise.
Quesnel DA, Cooper M, Fernandez-del-Valle M, Reilly A, Calogero RM.Medical and physiological complications of exercise for individuals with an eating disorder: a narrative review.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2023;11(1):3. doi:10.1186/s40337-022-00685-9
Lichtenstein MB, Hinze CJ, Emborg B, Thomsen F, Hemmingsen SD.Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:85-95. doi:10.2147%2FPRBM.S113093
National Eating Disorders Association.Risk factors.
Sala M, Keshishian A, Song S, et al.Predictors of relapse in eating disorders: a meta-analysis.Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2023;158:281-299. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.002
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