Many people have at least heard of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa. But there is another disease becoming more common, especially among younger women.
According to Tiffany Stewart, assistant director of Our Lady of the Lake eating disorder program at the Tau Center, “exercise bulimia” is a term used to describe a type of eating disorder in which someone uses exercise as a compensation for binge eating.
Instead of throwing up or using laxatives to purge food, a person with this disorder will exercise for hours at a time on a daily basis.
Julie McNeil, a dietician at the Wellness Education Center, said someone with exercise bulimia may be obsessed with what he or she eats and feel so guilty about food that afterward he or she feels the need to work off the extra calories.
“Someone might feel the compulsion to get rid of calories soon,” McNeil said. “They can’t deal with having a meal and immediately have to work it off.”
Jacqui Tabor, Rec Center aquatics and fitness coordinator, said it is noticeable when someone has a problem, but it is not the Rec’s responsibility to step in and confront the member.
“You can tell [who has a problem] because they come every day and work out for hours,” Tabor said.
McNeil said a majority of people with this disease are women. However, she is starting to see more men coming in the center with this problem.
According to Stewart, bulimia nervosa is characterized as purging by vomiting or using laxatives after binge eating or eating more than usual in a given period of time.
Stewart said although exercise bulimia is not an official diagnosis, it is becoming a common form of bulimia nervosa.
“[People with exercise bulimia] use exercise as a purging method,” Stewart said. “They might not ever vomit, but it is still diagnosed as bulimia nervosa.”
Stewart said typically someone with this disorder may feel the urge to hit the gym after binge eating, but the perception of “binge” depends on the person.
“Someone might eat a cookie and think they just binged,” Stewart said.
McNeil said it may be difficult to distinguish someone with exercise bulimia because working out is more of a social norm, especially among younger people.
Those who may be rigid about working out do not necessarily have the disorder.
McNeil said the difference between someone with exercise bulimia and someone who just likes to work out is how that person feels about food and his or her body image.
She said guilt after eating is the main feeling associated with any eating disorder.
There are some traits to look for that may suggest someone is suffering from an obsession with body image and working out.
“A lot of times they might be withdrawn, and exercise takes priority over everything,” McNeil said.
McNeil said there are usually immediate and effective results when someone starts to work out more than usual, but the positive outcome will not last long.
“Eventually it catches up to you,” McNeil said. “It can break down muscle tissue if you don’t give your body time to rest and don’t get enough calories.”
Stewart said other risks include joint problems, fatigue, injuries and an electrolyte imbalance.
Lisa Johnson, a kinesiology instructor, said electrolytes, primarily made of sodium chloride and potassium, are lost during sweating. If an imbalance occurs, it may result in heart damage.
Psychologically, the disorder may stem from feelings of depression and anxiety about body image and self-worth or loss of control with eating.
There are many different options for getting help if someone feels he or she has a problem.
“Eighty percent of students we see are eating disorder-related,” McNeil said. “After the initial visit, they can schedule follow-ups for as long as they need to.”
Stewart said if the problem is out of control, there is help at the Tau Center. For less severe cases, she recommends seeing any of the outpatient therapists in Baton Rouge for counseling and nutrition advice.
The Tau Center is holding eating disorder screenings during the week of Feb. 24 by appointment. Anyone can call the center with questions about eating disorders at 765-8900.