Healthy exercise means finding a balance between overtraining and inactivity. By using a combination of clinical studies and real-life examples, this book shows readers how to develop their own personal prescription for discovering that balance. Written by two specialists in the field of eating disorders, it details both ends of the exercise continuum, from compulsive exercisers who push their bodies to the limit to people with little or no physical activity in their daily lives. The authors explain the psychological and health issues that can result from compulsive exercise — including bone loss, fractures, amenorrhea, and unhealthy eating. They also cover the problems arising from inadequate exercise and provide ways that ill people can safely implement fitness programs. The book is not a weight-loss guide; instead, it emphasizes the importance of proper exercise, offering readers of all sizes, ages, and health levels practical solutions for changing their routines and finding a healthy exercise balance.
Dr. Pauline Powers is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the Health Sciences Center, University of South Florida. She has been treating patients with obesity and eating disorders for over 30 years and currently runs the Eating Disorder Program at Fairwinds Residential Treatment Center. She has been involved in integrating moderate exercise programs into the treatment of patients for years, including people with severe obesity, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. She was the founding president of the Academy for Eating Disorders and is the immediate past president of the National Eating Disorders Association. Recently she was a member of the American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders that prepared the Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders, 2006. She also has coauthored Athletes and Eating Disorders with Ron Thompson, which is to appear in the Clinical Manual of Eating Disorders.Dr. Ron Thompson is a psychologist in private practice, specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. He has been a consulting psychologist for the Athletic Department at Indiana University - Bloomington for the past 20 years. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Thompson lectures, writes, and conducts research on the topic of eating disorders, as well as providing education and training regarding eating disorders to athletes, coaches, and other sport personnel and healthcare professionals at NCAA member institutions. Most recently, he has coauthored the Disordered Eating section of the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission Position Stand on the Female Athlete Triad and the NCAA Coaches Handbook: Managing the Female Athlete Triad. Included in his publications are the books Helping Athletes with Eating Disorders, and Bulimia: A Guide for Family and Friends.
