EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY:Exercise Addiction, Bulimia Nervosa, Muscle Dysmorphia

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Sport Psychology(psy407)

Lesson 42

EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY

The Immune System, Cancer, HIV and Exercise

In recent years research has linked two of the great plagues of our time (cancer and HIV) to exercise and its

effect on the immune system. While exercise has generally been linked to benefits, in cases of excess it can

have negative consequences. It is like a two-edged sword: it cuts both ways. If applied in moderation it can

have beneficial effects, but if applied in excess it can have negative effects.

Exercise and Cancer

Moderate exercise is linked to a lowered incidence of colon and breast cancer. Young women who regularly

participate in physical exercise activities during their reproductive years have a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Individuals who have cancer, but who exercise regularly, may benefit from improved psychological well-

being, preservation of lean tissue, and enhanced immune system.

Exercise and the Immune System

Research clearly suggests that exercising in moderation leads to improved psychological mood and

enhanced immune system functioning. Conversely, it is widely believed that chronic intense and stressful

exercise may result in mood disturbance and in suppression of the immune system. There is growing

evidence that for several hours following heavy sustained exertion, the immune system is suppressed.

It is believed that the immune system is stimulated and strengthened by moderately intense exercise, but

suppressed by overly intense exercise. It appears that there exists an optimal level of regular physical activity

conducive to the resistance to illness. Apparently, you can have too much of a good thing.

Exercise and Human Immunodeficiency Virus

It is widely believed by medal professionals that the presence of the HIV ultimately leads to acquired

immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Increased anxiety and depression should be viewed as risk factor

facilitating the development of AIDS. Because exercise has been positively linked with decreased anxiety

and depression, it follows that chronic exercise is effective in retarding the negative progression and effects

of HIV.

Research suggests that moderate exercise is an effective complementary therapy for treating psychological

manifestations associated with HIV infections.

Social Physique Anxiety, Physical Self-Concept, and Body Image

Social physique anxiety, physical self-concept, and body image are all constructs that describe how an

individual feels about her physical body. While these constructs are not identical to each other, they are

correlated, and are predictive to exercise behavior. A high score on social physique anxiety and low scores

on physical self-concept and body image are predictive of a low level of exercise behavior. Individuals who

are anxious about their bodies, have low physical self-concepts, and have low body images have a hard time

getting motivated to exercise.

Social physique anxiety is the anxiety people experience when they perceive that other people evaluate their

physiques negatively. Physical self-concept is the perception that people have about themselves relative to

the physical-self. Physical self-concept is closely tied to the notion that an individual's feeling of self-worth

and self-esteem is related to how he perceives himself within his body. Body image refers to the images or

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Sport Psychology(psy407)

pictures people have about their bodies. The image that a person has about her own body can be quite

different from the one that other people have of her. Research shows that physically active people have

better body image than physically inactive people.

Exercise Addiction

Exercise addiction is generally defined as a psychophysiological dependence on a regular regimen of

exercise. The normal benefits associated with regular exercise at a moderate intensity are lost for the

exercise-addiction individual. Failure to exercise according to schedule results in a mood state disturbance in

the addicted individual. From an attributionial perspective, the addicted exerciser is controlled by the

activity, as opposed to the activity's being controlled by the exerciser. Compared to nonaddicted exerciser,

addicted exercisers report being more restless and stressed out prior to an exercise bout. They also

experience a higher degree of depression, anxiety, and general discomfort when they miss a scheduled

workout. An important characteristic of the exercise addict is that he will generally insist on exercising in the

face of physical pain or injury.

Another term used to describe the addicted exerciser is obligatory runner. Obligatory runners are highly

motivated to exercise, and when they can't, they experience abnormal feelings of anxiety and psychological

discontent.

Eating Disorders and Physical Activity

Actual clinically diagnosed eating disorders are relatively rare among athletes and physical activity

enthusiasts. Much more prevalent are a whole array of unhealthy subclinical eating disorders. We will

discuss both briefly.

Clinically diagnosed eating disorders

The two most severe clinically diagnosed or pathogenic rating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia

nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa

They exhibit the following criteria:

Severe weight loss

Refusal to maintain normal body weight

Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat

Severe body image disturbance

Treatment and recovery requires professional help. The diagnosed anorexic cannot overcome this mental

illness herself.

Bulimia Nervosa

They exhibit the following criteria:

a. Binge eating followed by purging at least twice per week for three months

b. Loss of self-control

c. Severe body image disturbance

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Sport Psychology(psy407)

Bulimics are preoccupied with food and weight, fear getting fat, and exhibit chaotic eating behaviors. Unlike

anorexics, bulimics turn to food, rather than away from it. As with anorexia nervosa, treatment and recovery

from bulimia nervosa requires professional help.

Sub clinical Eating Disorder among Athletes.

Males and females involved in activities that link leanness to success are often pressured to be thin. This is

especially true for female athletes involved in gymnastics and dancers. In an effort to be thin and to meet

their coaches' expectations, athletes may turn to a number of questionable eating and exercise behaviors

that may compromise their health. Several recent studies have reported on subcilinical eating disorders

among athletes. Of particular interest is a meta-analysis involving 92 studies, and 10, 878 athletes

(Hausenblas & Carron, 1999). Results of this meta-analysis are as follows:

1. Athletes report more eating disorder symptoms than nonathletes.

2. Athletes competing in aesthetic sports report more eating disorder than those in nonathleteic sports

(e.g., gymnastics, dance, diving).

3. Athletes do not have a greater drive for thinness than nonathletes.

Eating Disorder and Unhealthy Exercise Behavior

In some cases eating disorders have been linked to potentially unhealthy exercise behavior. Now let us

briefly discuss some of those behaviors and relationships.

Anorexia Analogue Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that male obligatory runners and anorexic females share common personality

characteristics and a common drive for thinness which is through excessive exercise. This is the anorexia

analogue hypothesis. Research provides only partial support of this hypothesis.

Muscle Dysmorphia

Muscle dysmorphia is defined as a preoccupation with the notion that one is not sufficiently muscular.

Individuals classified as being muscle dysmorphic, think constantly about their muscularity and have little

control over compulsive weightlifting and dietary regimens.

Wrestlers Making Weight

The adverse physiological effects of rapid weight loss or "cutting" in preparation for competition are well

documented in the literature. Rapid weight loss results in decreased plasma volume, dehydration, and

hypoglycemia. It also results in a cognitive functioning decrement. Cognitive decrements are noted primarily

in short-term memory and digit span recall. Mood state disturbances are also noted in such people.

References

Cox, H. Richard. (2002). Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications. (Fifth Edition). New York:

McGraw-Hill Companies

Lavallec. D., Kremer, J., Moran, A., & Williams. M. (2004) Sports Psychology: Contemporary Themes. New

York: Palgrave Macmillan Publishers

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