What is an exercise physiologist?
Exercise physiologists are tertiary qualified health professionals who provide information, advice and counselling relating to exercise and physical activity for health and wellbeing. This includes ensuring that when facilitating the incorporation of exercise, it is considered safe and evidence based.
Historically, abstinence from exercise during eating disorder treatment was recommended because of the link between these conditions and dysfunctional exercise behaviours. However, over time, the research and experts in the field began to challenge this approach because of the improved physical and mental outcomes for people living with an eating disorder when exercise was safely introduced during treatment.
What is dysfunctional exercise?
As many as four in five individuals living with an eating disorder engage in dysfunctional exercise behaviours. Exercise is considered dysfunctional when the relationship becomes negative. This can result in compulsive, addictive and dependent exercise behaviour, which is harmful to an individual’s physical and psychological wellbeing. Dysfunctional exercise does not have to be strenuous exercise (like running or high-intensity gym sessions) but can include obsessive incidental movement and activities of daily living.
How will an exercise physiologist support the safe incorporation of exercise?
The exercise physiologist will address exercise participation throughout all stages of eating disorder treatment, adopting a step-up/step-down approach tailored according to the individual’s current physical and psychological well-being. This will include ongoing review to ensure medical stability, adequate nutrition, weight restoration and an ability to manage increased movement without adverse impact on eating disorder behaviours.
Much like restoring normative eating behaviours and cognitions during treatment, restoring normative relationships with the body and physical activity may also be vital to eating disorder recovery. An exercise physiologist will support this by working in collaboration with the individual to ensure the movement is safe, healthful, and holistic, therefore promoting improved health outcomes.
What are the benefits of safe and healthful movement and education during treatment?
- Improved quality of life
- Improved body composition
- Improved central health markers for illness (e.g. blood pressure, cholesterol)
- Reduced muscle degeneration and risk of osteoporosis
- Improved psychological symptomology (e.g. anxiety, depression and body esteem issues)
- Re-engaging with exercise as a health-promoting, social and enjoyable part of life
The best outcomes for people living with an eating disorder are achieved through a multidisciplinary approach. Dysfunctional exercise is commonly one of the first presenting and last remaining symptoms. Despite this, research shows that people who engage in safe and healthful exercise during treatment are also more likely to experience improved physical and mental health outcomes as a result.
Headway’s Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Sarah Penter, works with clients who are recovering from an eating disorder to support their safe engagement in exercise. Sarah is particularly passionate about working in this area because of the long-lasting impact a healthy relationship with exercise can have on our health and wellbeing.
