The role of exercise in the onset and maintenance of eating disorders has become more widely recognised in recent times. Today, the team at Centre for Integrative Health welcomed the news that guidelines were being introduced to the fitness industry in an effort of preventing and identifying eating disorders.
In an interview with Hack on Triple J, CFIH Psychologist, Ashleigh Olive, proposed a number of red flags that can help to identify someone with or at risk of an eating disorder.
Psychological red flags may include:
- Exercise being used as a person’s primary sense of self worth
- Engagement in exercise interfering with social or vocational engagement
- Exercise being used as a form of punishment or compensation
- Feeling guilty or distressed when unable to engage in exercise
- Exercising through injury or illness
Physiological indicators may include:
- Feeling or appearing overly lethargic
- Increased number of injuries or experiences of pain
- Decreased performance
If you or a loved one are experiencing concerns about eating, exercise, weight and/or shape, the team at Centre for Integrative Health offer specialised support to individuals and their loved ones. For crisis, international, or online support, the Butterfly Foundation are available from 8am until midnight, 7 days per week on 1800 ED HOPE.
