Tag: healthy eating

A well-nourished body and rest are needed to develop the strength and endurance needed to perform at an optimum level. With eating disorders affecting about one in 20 Australians, studies show that female athletes are twice as likely to develop anorexia.

The benefits of physical activity for mental illness is well documented. 30-minutes of vigorous exercise, 3-times a week can contribute to improvements in depression and anxiety. 1. However, when the motivation to exercise becomes unhealthy, there are major health consequences.  There is a fine line between exercising for health benefits and the compulsion to exercise to the point where high levels of anxiety are experienced if exercise is delayed.

Recovery from an eating disorder or disordered eating involves so much more than just addressing diet. They are such complex issues often involving comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD and substance abuse. At the centre of any eating disorder is a person who is trying to feel some sense of value. Adherence to rigid behaviours and rules around diet, exercise and other compensatory means,  gives this sense of value.

Perfectionism in psychology is defined as a personality trait in which a person strives for ‘flawlessness’. This striving is accompanied by setting high-performance standards, being self-critical and a concern for what other’s perceptions of you are.