Your child loves to play sports. Your son might be the star on his school’s track team and runs more than 4 hours a day—before practice, during practice and after practice. So is he just passionate about his sport or does he have a problem with excessive exercising?
Fitness experts say that kids can get too much exercise and those who exercise compulsively are at risk for both physical and psychological problems.
Doctors call the condition compulsive exercise (it’s also known as obligatory exercise and anorexia athletica). The condition is defined as the point where exercise is no longer fun and instead the person feels compelled to engage in a physical activity and struggles with guilt and anxiety if he or she doesn’t work out. Basically, exercise takes over a person’s life and he or she becomes obsessed with moving.
According to medical experts, repeatedly exercising beyond the requirements for good health (the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity for kids and teens at least five times a week) is an indicator of compulsive exercise. However, experts are quick to point out that because different amounts of exercise are appropriate for different people, this definition covers a range of activity levels. Bottom line: if your child is working out several times a day, every day, he or she is likely overdoing it.
So what causes compulsive exercise behavior? According to medical experts, the desire to exercise excessively can grow out of student athletes’ demanding practice schedules and their quest to excel. A child might be feeling pressure from coaches, peers, and parents or they may just have an inner drive that propels them to push themselves beyond normal limits. Your son or daughter might be believe that just one more workout will make the difference between first and second place and therefore keeps increasing his or her workout times.
Parents who think their child is exercising too much should speak to their son or daughter. In addition, it might be a good idea to meet with your child’s coach and or doctor if your suspicions prove true.
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