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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Exercise Bulimia: When working out becomes an obsession

Posted July 12th, 2007 at 6:30 PM by Katie Drummond

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise

For many busy women, it can be a struggle just to fit in that recommended thirty-minute daily dose of physical activity. But for a growing number, an effort to get regular exercise has been replaced by an obsession with burning calories and fulfilling rigid workout quotas - to the point of skipped work, depression, and potentially fatal harms to physical health.

While a fit body needs activity, exercise bulimia – an obsessive illness with serious consequences for the body and the emotional psyche - is becoming increasingly common. Experts estimate that at least 4% of Americans struggle with excessive exercising, but the diagnosis of exercise bulimia is rare in a culture that celebrates trim physiques and a disciplined dedication to workouts. In fact, most sufferers from exercise bulimia aren’t diagnosed with any medical problem until symptoms of more common eating disorders, namely anorexia and bulimia, rear their heads. And unfortunately, they often do, as most of those who struggle with one of the three will battle the others at some point in their lives.

It can be easy for exercise bulimia to go on for years under the radar –

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Grete Waitz: Legendary runner and woman of valor

Posted January 21st, 2007 at 5:30 PM by Jenna Sumara

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

In the world of competitive running, a bulk of the media’s attention and fanfare is placed on men. This is really unfortunate as there has been, and continues to be, truly spectacular female athletes. Legendary runner Grete Waitz is a perfect example.

From track and field to marathons, she has done it all, and done it well. Perhaps her most well known success comes from being a nine time winner of the New York City Marathon. She is the only runner, female or male, to come anywhere near that record streak of domination.
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