Always on the Run with Anorexia….

Contributor: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC. President & Founder of Eating Disorder Hope

Many anorexia sufferers are in perpetual motion. It can seem as though they are hyperactive as we watch them pace, shake their foot while sitting or go on yet another long walk or run. High levels of physical activity is the norm in anorexia nervosa {1).

Sarah, a lovely and intelligent woman, who suffered from severe and long term anorexia, was a client of mine a few years ago. Sarah walked everywhere! It was not uncommon for her to walk up to 4 hours a day as she obsessively worked to burn off the nonexistent fat she feared.

Sarah’s husband begged her to stop the constant walking, but she felt it was something she had to do in order to feel some degree of control over her body and her life. Day in, day out, Sarah walked.

The Commonality of Obsessive Physical Activity

Sarah is not alone. Many who struggle with anorexia find themselves engaging in obsessive physical activity. It does seem to quell some internal unrest for these folks.

Interestingly, researchers have also found that when rats are placed on highly restrictive diets with resulting weight loss, these rats will run excessively on an exercise wheel. In fact, if given unrestricted access, these rats will literally run until they die {2}. So, what is up with these rats? What is up with Sarah?

The Brain Chemicals Behind Obsessive Exercise

Research indicates that those with anorexia have abnormal levels of dopamine and 5-HT and noradrenaline neurotransmission. So, how interesting that noradrenaline, a brain chemical associated with stress and anxiety, was more normalized in rats who exercised excessively {3}.

Maybe that was the payoff for Sarah in her excessive walking – it might have helped her to moderate her stress and anxiety. It’s not hard to imagine that we would all tend to do a behavior that alleviates gnawing anxiety and uncomfortable stress.

Studies on Brain Chemistry May Help Anorexia Sufferers

We have so much to learn about the brain and anorexia. Most of the studies seem to indicate that a greater understanding of the brain chemistry in those struggling with anorexia will result in new and improved treatment for this life threatening disease.

In the interim, it is important that we observe anorexia symptoms with curiosity and interest while refraining from harsh judgment of behaviors that may seem odd, but may be serving an important purpose for the anorexia sufferer.

Support and Help Are Still Needed

Of course, we need to obtain treatment by eating disorder professionals immediately for our loved ones suffering from anorexia. We also do not want to condone unhealthy behaviors, such as excessive exercise.

But, we do need to offer our suffering loved one much compassion and reserve judgment. Perhaps if we felt like they do, we might find ourselves acting similarly?

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

Was excessive exercise a part of your struggle with Anorexia Nervosa? How are you working to recover from excessive exercise and achieve balance?

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References:

1. Sternheim, L., Danner, U., Adan, R. and van Elburg, A. (2015), Drive for activity in patients with anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 48: 42–45. doi: 10.1002/eat.22272
2. Gutierrez, E. (2013), A rat in the labyrinth of anorexia nervosa: Contributions of the activity-based anorexia rodent model to the understanding of anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 46: 289–301. doi: 10.1002/eat.22095
3. Van Gestel, M. A., Kostrzewa, E., Adan, R. A. H. and Janhunen, S. K. (2014), Pharmacological manipulations in animal models of anorexia and binge eating in relation to humans. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171: 4767–4784. doi: 10.1111/bph.12789

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on January 7th, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com