By Alisson Clark GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When treating an eating
disorder, exercise is rarely considered therapeutic; it’s more
likely to be viewed as dangerous for patients already obsessed
with their weight. But a new University of Florida study shows
that the psychological benefits of exercise could be used as an
intervention for — or even a way to prevent — eating disorders.
Despite the documented mental and physical benefits of exercise,
health care practitioners have long assumed that people with
eating disorders shouldn’t be encouraged to burn calories
through physical activity. While it’s true that compulsive
exercisers risk further harm, healthy exercise that’s not
compulsive could help people with eating disorders or people who
are at risk for eating disorders, said Heather Hausenblas, a UF
exercise psychologist who co-authored the study, published in
the January issue of European Eating Disorders Review. “When it
comes to eating disorders, exercise has always been seen as a
negative because people use