EXCESSIVE PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY IN DIETING DISORDER PATIENTS - PROPOSALS FOR A SUPERVISED EXERCISE PROGRAM

A relationship between starvation and hyperactivity has been observed in animal models, in experiments with human subjects, and in dieting d isorder patients. Since the earliest descriptions of anorexia nervosa, excessive physical activity has figured prominently as a symptom of t he illness, yet little attention has been directed towards this phenom enon. The aims of this paper are to review the published literature, t o report our experience of the role of physical overactivity in the cl inical presentation of dieting disorders, to discuss its implications for treatment, and to propose a supervised exercise program by which o veractivity may be addressed specifically in the treatment of these pa tients. (C) 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.