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Combating exercise

Do not let exercise take over your life

PEER PRESSURE? Too much is never too good

Compulsive exercise, like perfectionism, sounds a lot better than it feels like in practice. The workout junkie's life revolves around exercise, in much the same way that an alcoholic's revolves around alcohol, and a drug addict's around drugs. Exercise takes over such a person's life.

The compulsive exerciser frequents more than one gym, and works out for durations that compromise family life, career or studies. The person feels inwardly compelled to exercise; working out is a way of regaining control over life, and missing a workout evokes guilt and anxiety.

Compulsive exercisers do not skip workouts, even if tired, sick, or injured. Some of them maintain elaborate journals on their exercise behaviour.

They base their self-worth on the number of exercise sessions completed and the effort put into training.

Young women are most likely to exercise compulsively to achieve a better body image. The technical term for this: "anorexia athletica" captures its psychological proximity to anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder with similar psychological roots. In anorexia nervosa, compulsive exercise is often the partner of a near-starvation dietary regimen.

Compulsive exercise often begins in childhood. Such children have low self-esteem, and are frequently pressured by peers, coaches and parents about their athletic performance and body weight. Children end up feeling that "one more round" around the school ground is what it will take to stave off failure and scolding.

Girls who compulsively exercise end up with their hormones in disarray: this disrupts normal menstrual cycles (some girls stop having periods altogether), and increases the risk of premature osteoporosis.

Too much exercise damages tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage, and joints. Combined with inadequate nutrition, it leads to decreased muscle mass as the body preys on its own muscles for energy.

Professional counselling from a trained psychologist is often necessary for someone who is already an exercise junkie.

RAJIV M

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