Over-exercising, Over Activity - Approaching an Individual With an Activity Disorder

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

Approaching an Individual With an Activity Disorder

In January 1986, the Physician and Sports Medicine Journal discussed the subject of pathogenic (negative) exercise in athletes and listed recommendations for approaching athletes practicing one or more pathogenic weight control techniques. The recommendations can be reformulated and extended for use when approaching individuals with activity disorders who are not necessarily considered athletes.

Guidelines for Approaching the Activity Disordered Individual

• A person who has good rapport with the individual, such as a coach, should arrange a private meeting to discuss the problem in a supportive style.
• Without judgment, specific examples should be given regarding the behaviors that have been observed that arouse concern.
• It is important to let the individual respond but do not argue with him or her.
• Reassure the individual that the point is not to take away exercise forever but that participation in exercise will ultimately be curtailed through an injury or by necessity if evidence shows that the problem has compromised the individual's health.
• Try to determine if the person feels that he or she is beyond the point of being able to voluntarily abstain from the problem behavior.
• Do not stop at one meeting; these individuals will be resistant to admitting that they have a problem, and it may take repeated attempts to get them to admit a problem and/or seek help.
• If the individual continues to refuse to admit that a problem exists in the face of compelling evidence, consult a clinician with expertise in treating these disorders and/or find others who may be able to help. Remember that these individuals are very independent and success oriented. Admitting they have a problem they are unable to control will be very difficult for them.
• Be sensitive to the factors that may have played a part in the development of this problem. Activity disordered individuals are often unduly influenced by significant others and/or coaches who suggest that they lose weight or who unwittingly praise them for excessive activity.

Risk Factors

One outstanding difference between the eating disorders and activity disorders seems to be that there are more males who develop activity disorders and more females who develop eating disorders. Exploring the reason for this may provide a better understanding of both. What are the causes that contribute to the development of an activity disorder? Why do only some individuals with eating disorders have this syndrome and others who have this syndrome don't have eating disorders at all? What we do know is that the risk factors for developing an activity disorder are varied, including sociocultural, family, individual, and biological factors, and are not necessarily the same ones that cause the disorder to persist.

Sociocultural

In a society that places a high value on independence and achievement combined with being fit and thin, involvement in exercise provides a perfect means for fitting in or gaining approval. Exercise serves to enhance self-worth, when that self-worth is based on appearance, endurance, strength, and capability.

Family

Child-rearing practices and family values contribute to an individual choosing exercise as a means of self-development and recognition. If parents or other caregivers endorse these sociocultural values and they themselves diet or exercise obsessively, children will adopt these values and expectations at an early age. Children who learn not only from society but also from their parents that to be acceptable is to be fit and thin may be left with a narrow focus for self-development and self-esteem. A child reared with phrases such as "no pain, no gain," may endorse this attitude wholeheartedly without the proper maturity or common sense to balance this notion with proper self- nurturing and self-care.

Individual

Certain individuals seem predisposed to need a high level of activity. Individuals who are perfectionists, achievement oriented, and have the capacity for self-deprivation will be more likely to seek out exercise and become addicted to the feelings or other perceived benefits the exercise provides. Additionally, individuals who develop activity disorder seem outwardly independent, unstable in their view of themselves, and lacking in their ability to have fully satisfying relationships with others.

Biological

Just as with eating disorders, researchers are exploring what biological factors may contribute to activity disorders. We know that certain individuals have a biologically based predisposition to obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and, in women, amenorrhea. We know that in animals the combination of food restriction and stress causes an increase in activity level and, furthermore, that food restriction with increased activity can cause the activity to become senseless and driven.

Furthermore, parallel changes have been detected in the brain chemicals and hormones of eating disordered females and long-distance runners that may explain how the anorexic tolerates starvation and the runner tolerates pain and exhaustion. In general, activity disordered men and women seem to be different biochemically than nondisordered individuals and are more easily led and trapped into a cycle of activity that is resistant to intervention.