 Exercise (which we’ll explore below as being a bit different from movement) is often a complicated subject for anyone going through eating disorder recovery. For many, exercise is not just about “health”, but can become a primary way to manage challenging emotions, worsen other disordered patterns, be tied to compensation, and even to identity.
But, unlike other common ED behaviors such as bingeing, purging or restricting, intentional movement practice can be part of someone’s recovery. In fact, when approached with care, it can be a powerful tool for healing. In this post, we’ll explore the role of movement in eating disorder recovery - how to recognize disordered patterns, how movement and exercise differ and how to begin healing your relationship with movement, gently and safely. Importantly, this article is not a substitute for professional medical or therapeutic advice. Always defer to your treatment team before making changes to your routine. Why Exercise Is Complicated in Eating Disorder Recovery Exercise does offer numerous benefits for wellbeing. It can support mental health, help regulate sleep and digestion, reduce anxiety, and boost mood. But in the context of an eating disorder, exercise can all too quickly become entangled in other unhealthy behaviors. Much like the use of restriction, bingeing, or purging, many struggling with an eating disorder may use exercise as a mechanism to manage distress or to numb, distract or compensate. What also complicates matters is the glorification of exercise within our society. Individuals who prioritize and promote intense exercise practices are praised for doing so, often pushing their body beyond its comfortable limits and ignoring signs to rest. Fixation on certain body parts and appearance ideals can further alienate someone from an intuitive experience of moving and being in their own body. When all of these messages are thrown around, it becomes difficult to maintain perspective on what is most supportive to your own recovery, what you truly want, and what feels more authentic. It’s essential to remember that, despite the positive impacts, a laser-focus on exercise can easily become an inescapable routine. The Difference Between Exercise & Movement – A Matter of Framing The first step to healing your relationship with exercise, is understanding its purpose. For many people with an eating disorder, exercise is used as a compensatory behavior to make up for food eaten, or to give permission to eat. It may also be used to reduce distressing emotions, distract, or as an attempt to change your body. Using movement as a tool for things like anxiety regulation is not always harmful. However, if it becomes your main or only coping mechanism, the likelihood of movement becoming disordered or dysfunctional is high as the reliance grows and a belief that exercise is required to self-regulate becomes engrained. If you were to adapt your purpose, how could we think of movement as a practice that is similar to exercise but contains some key differences. What could movement, then, add to your life? Could it be a way to connect with others, to enjoy nature, or to listen to your body's needs? Could it be gentle, adaptive and responsive? Could it be a way to support your recovery and wellbeing, rather than something punitive or all encompassing? Eating disorder recovery looks different for everyone, and so does movement. The goal isn’t always to eliminate movement entirely (unless medically necessary), but to redefine your relationship with it. This might mean taking a break for a while and very likely changing the intensity, type or duration of your movement practices in the long term. Shaping a new relationship with movement can be an extremely liberating experience with care and time. Signs of a Disordered Relationship with Exercise Due to the normalization in society of disordered patterns, recognizing that you have a disordered relationship with exercise can be challenging. However, as you move through recovery, it’s essential to reflect on your current relationship with exercise. Even though it’s hard, it’s important to be honest with yourself to support your recovery. Try asking yourself:
If these questions resonate, it might be time to think about what purpose exercise has in your life. These questions aren’t here to worry you or make you feel bad, but instead to help you recognize the potential negative impact and limitations exercise is having on your life. Reframing Exercise & Reclaiming Movement as a Supportive Practice Sometimes, especially in the early stages of recovery or when medically compromised, a step-down approach or temporary abstinence from general movement may be necessary. Research has consistently shown that exercise can be harmful when the body is undernourished or physiologically unstable (D. A. Quesnel et al., 2023). However, complete and prolonged limitation on movement may not be helpful for everyone, with research over the last two decades demonstrating that stopping all forms of movement is not necessary or appropriate in many cases, and may actually do more harm than good (Mathisen et al., 2021). This uniquely dual nature of movement being both helpful and harmful, makes it particularly complex to navigate during recovery. Recovery asks us to step out of our comfort zone and engage with our bodies and emotions to new and challenging ways. For many, losing or limiting a standing exercise practice on top of their other recovery work can be distressing. That's why understanding the purpose of exercise, and how exercise differs from movement, is so crucial. It ensures that new, healthier coping mechanisms can be implemented alongside movement to reduce distress. Finding New Ways to Regulate In early recovery, it’s common for exercise to be the primary or only tool someone uses to manage emotions or feel productive. Removing that without replacement can lead to more distress, so adding in alternative coping strategies alongside adjusting your movement routine is important. Additionally, rather than simply replacing exercise with one new tool, I often find it most helpful to be open to lots of different things. That way, no matter how you’re feeling, you’ll have a toolbox to lean into, and something will feel right! You could try exploring:
Activities like gentle yoga, walking, or stretching may be appropriate in some cases. The key is ensuring that food remains consistent regardless of movement and that the activity feels emotionally grounding. If you start to recognize negative thoughts about earning food or a desire to reduce your intake, speaking to your treatment team is key. While this is challenging, honesty with yourself and your intentions is vital for healing. Final Thoughts on Movement and Eating Disorder Recovery The relationship between movement and eating disorder recovery is deeply personal and nuanced. While there are real safety concerns that must be carefully managed, movement, when approached with intention and support, can also be part of the healing process. When an eating disorder is involved, things can get a bit confusing as to what’s supportive and what’s destructive. Why not reach out to your therapist, dietitian, or medical provider. Together, you can create a plan that prioritizes your physical and emotional safety while helping you rediscover the joy of movement on your own terms. Remember: You deserve to move because it feels good. You deserve to eat because your body needs nourishment. Neither should be something you have to earn. Comments are closed.
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