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Advice offered to students on exercising to excess |
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Tuesday, 18 September 2007 |
by JULIA HARR
Lifestyles Reporter
Visiting the gym every day has numerous health benefits - but going to the gym all day may be a different story.
Health, Leisure and Exercise Science Professor Dr. Chuck Dumke explained that exercise addiction is like many other addictions.
Exercise can be just as addictive as drugs and alcohol, Dumke said.
When working out, various hormones get released in the body. When the
body’s receptors get used to this hormone they crave it more, causing
the need for those receptors to be saturated with the hormone.
Lack of saturation can cause a need to “get a fix” of exercise.
College campuses can be a breading ground for exercise addictions to start and flourish.
“I think college campuses are prone to such things,” Dumke said.
“College students have a lot of time on their hands; going to work out
with friends is something everyone does. I don’t think ASU is worse
than any other campus.”
 Jacqueline P. Sullivan, a senior public relations major, exercises in the Mt. Mitchell Life Fitness Centre in Plemmons Student Union. Derek DeSha |
Hours at the three on-campus work-out facilities range from 6 a.m. to
12 a.m. meaning students can work out almost anytime they want during
the day.
Exercise is healthy for the body and exercise addiction poses no
immediate health risks. It becomes a problem when it encroaches on
other life activities.
“The danger comes in how it affects the rest of your life,” Dumke said.
“The danger isn’t in negative health effects but rather on lifestyle
changes.”
Dumke said exercise addictions can cause people to skip out on other
activities and create an adverse effect in their relationships, careers
and studying.
“Exercise is beneficial to your health,” Dumke said. “Risks to health are minimal.”
“People are trying to attain a body image ideal,” Dumke said. “There is
a lot of psychological disorders recognized by DSM-IV (Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) that have to do with men and
women dealing with the pressure of attainting an ideal body image.”
“I was bulimic and realized that it was hurting my health,” sophomore
undecided major Katie B. Gregory said. “I realized I should do things
the right way.”
Gregory then put a stop to her purging and began working out two hours
everyday and eating as few calories as possible. She ran, worked on the
Stairmaster, and lifted weights.
“I thought I was just a health nut; I was afraid of being fat,” she said. “I would get depressed if I didn’t work out.”
Gregory said that she would probably still be an exercise addict if it weren’t for a necessary knee surgery.
“I was getting really close to what I thought was perfect,” she said.
“I was more muscle than fat. When I found out about surgery, I balled;
I couldn’t run for three to four months.”
After her surgery healed she did not go back to her rigorous exercise
plan. Now, Gregory considers being able to “keep up with the boys” as
healthy.
University Recreation does encourage employees to be aware of possible
cases of exercise addiction. However, some employees find it hard to
oversee.
“Everyone has two hour shifts so it would be a hard thing to catch,”
senior public relations major and facility employee C. Shae Rudisill
said.
He said there are bulletin boards focused on body image issues and some
facilities contain information about eating and exercise disorders.
“If I noticed something, I wouldn’t be able to say anything to them at
work, but I would probably refer them to the counseling center,” he
said.
University Recreation policy prohibits facilities employees from
correcting exercise techniques or giving advice about working out.
Counseling and Psychological Services offers an online screening for body image related disorders and offers a support group.
More information and links to online screening is available at www.eatingdisorders.appstate.edu.
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