Symptoms of Anorexia Athletica: When You're Addicted to Exercise

Unlike anorexia nervosa, people diagnosed with anorexia athletica don't only use dangerous dieting methods to lose weight-they also exercise compulsively, often for hours at a time.

But the damage is the same, if not worse-exercise-addicted anorexics can cause additional damage to their bones and muscles from excessive exercise. The weight loss may cause additional damage, affecting their physical and mental wellbeing.

Symptoms of anorexia athletica include:

Symptom #1: An obsession with exercise. People with anorexia athletica often fantasize about their next workout session with unusual excitement. They also enjoy researching new ways to exercise by reading fitness books, magazines or using the Internet.

Symptom #2: Skipping social events, school or work in favor of working out. It's not uncommon for exercise-addicted anorexics to skip social events in favor of a quick run on the treadmill. They also excuse their behaviors as a health-conscious effort to get fit, when in reality it is a symptom of eating disordered behavior.

Symptom #3: Exercising for more than an hour a day. While some athletes do exercise for hours in preparation for a race or event, this isn't the norm-the body simply doesn't benefit from excessive exercise. People with anorexia athletica often exercise for hours at a time to shed the pounds, putting a huge strain on the their heart.

Symptom #4: A lack of control over their fitness habits. An addiction to working out is a significant-and the main-symptom of anorexia athletica, which cannot be stopped with help from loved ones. Their mental addiction to working out is often difficult to stop, making it necessary to get professional help. If forced to stop, they may exercise privately to hide their habits.

Symptom #5: A dangerously low body fat percentage. A normal body fat percentage is usually between 25-31%, but it's not uncommon for anorexics to have a body fat percentage below 15%. For women, this can cause amenorrhea, or a loss of menstrual periods.

Other symptoms of anorexia athletica are very similar to anorexia nervosa, as indicated on AnorexiaReport.com. This includes a preoccupation with eating habits, using restrictive diets to lose weight and using drugs, both illegal and legal, to lose weight.

If you are currently experiencing symptoms of anorexia athletica, seek help immediately-if left untreated, it can cause numerous health, muscle or bone problems, which can be deadly.

Sources:
"Anorexia Athletica" (AnorexiaReport.com; Accessed 2/26/10)