Compulsive Exercise Disorder is a condition in which the sufferer exercises continually and fears that if they are not exercising they will gain weight.

 

This is usually a problem encountered with people who haveAnorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and EDNOS. What makes exercise ‘compulsive’ is when someone will spend many hours a day exercising several days a week, if not every day. They cannot feel good about themselves and the day may be viewed as ruined if they do not reach their goal which increases as they become driven to achieve more each time.

 

Usual modes of over exercising include excessive running and spending long periods at the gym. What makes compulsive exercise different to Bigorexia is that compulsive exercisers will spend many hours aiming to lose calories in order to loose weight. It is a common behaviour amongst suffererers of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and EDNOS.