Eating Disorders & Excessive Exercise: A Guide for the Exercise & Active Health Industry

The InsideOut Institute and AUSactive has developed the Guide for the Exercise & Active Health Industry to support professionals and businesses in working safely and effectively with clients who may be at risk. The recommendations supported by health professionals aim to promote health and safety, early identification of risk, appropriate referral, and collaborative care within exercise and active health settings.  

This Guide provides evidence-based recommendations for: identifying behavioural, physical and psychological warning signs, implementing appropriate actions and establishing suitable referral processes for higher risk clients.

National Strategy Standards and Actions

Prevention

Standard 3: There is increased community capacity and expertise to prevent eating disorders through a 'do no harm' approach which acts to reduce risk and bolster protective factors.  

Action 3.1: Eating disorder service development and lived experience organisations to partner with other sectors, industries, professional bodies and consumer groups to develop and disseminate training and supporting resources in eating disorder-safe principles for community, health and education professionals working with a diverse range of people and communities, and support their implementation. 

Standard 4: Home and family, school, work, health, online, and sports, fitness and performance environments bolster protective factors and reduce risk factors. 

Action 4.5: Eating disorder organisations to partner with industry bodies to develop and roll-out workplace initiatives for eating disorder prevention, such as through eating disorder-safe guidelines for workplaces, employee wellbeing programs and staff health/activity challenges.  

Action 4.6: Sports, fitness and performance organisations at all levels to embed a focus on eating disorder prevention within club/organisation culture, including through culture change programs and efforts to ensure inclusion of diverse bodies. 

Identification

Standard 1: There is whole-of-community awareness of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a developing or existing eating disorder, and the pathways to care.  

Action 1.2: Eating disorder and mental health organisations to continue to provide evidence-based information about eating disorders signs and symptoms and pathways to care, tailored to a range of audiences.