Featuring Jessica Aronson, LCSW-R and Maria Sorbara Mora MS, RD
In a culture that celebrates “grind” and glorifies control, it’s easy to mistake obsession for discipline. But when movement becomes compulsion — when rest feels unsafe, and exercise feels like survival — the body pays a quiet price. In this candid conversation, registered dietitian and eating disorder specialist Maria and psychotherapist Jess explore the physiology and psychology of exercise addiction, the harm of toxic fitness culture, and what true healing requires.
“Exercise is the only addiction people applaud you for having.”
Understanding the Gray Zone Between Fitness and Addiction
Maria Sorbara Mora:
Jess, let’s start with you. How did you become interested in the intersection between trauma, mental health, and compulsive exercise?
Jessica Aronson:
I’ve spent years working with clients recovering from eating disorders and trauma, and one thing that always struck me was how movement was rarely addressed. People could heal their relationship with food and still be trapped in an addictive relationship with exercise. There’s a huge gap in treatment for this — especially when it comes to understanding the physiology of addiction. Compulsive exercise isn’t just psychological; it’s biological. The body literally becomes dependent on the chemistry of movement — the endorphins, the stress hormones — to feel okay.
The Hidden Epidemic
Maria Sorbara Mora:
That’s exactly what I see in nutrition work. Exercise addiction flies under the radar because society rewards it. Research shows that one in three people with an eating disorder also have an exercise disorder, and men are more likely to be affected. People assume athletes and “fit” individuals are healthy, but the truth is more complicated. A healthy athlete can rest. Someone with exercise addiction can’t stop, even when they’re in pain or medically advised to.
Jessica Aronson:
Right — the inability to rest is one of the most reliable signs of addiction. The body is locked in a stress-response loop. Cortisol stays high, recovery systems shut down, and rest feels unbearable. Yet our culture calls this “discipline.” We don’t recognize the warning signs because the behavior looks socially admirable. Over-control gets mistaken for virtue.
“We live in a culture that worships control — and people die from it quietly.”
When “Health” Becomes Harm
Maria Sorbara Mora:
I often describe exercise addiction as the most accessible drug in the world. It’s free, it’s everywhere, and it’s the only one people cheer you on for using more of. I’ve worked with clients who can’t eat unless they hit a step goal — 20,000, 30,000 steps. That’s not wellness. That’s fear disguised as self-discipline.
Jessica Aronson:
And it is fear that’s reinforced. Fitness culture tells people that pain equals progress. “No pain, no gain” is practically scripture. But that message fuels trauma reenactment — especially for people who grew up needing to endure pain to survive. Many trauma survivors have higher pain thresholds. There nervous systems have been trained to tolerate distress, so they push harder, longer, and further. Exercise becomes a reenactment of their resilience — but also their suffering.
The Over-Controlled Personality Trap
Jessica Aronson:
In my practice, I often see what’s called an over-controlled coping style — people who are perfectionistic, disciplined, achievement-oriented, and emotionally restrained. They often look “successful” from the outside but live in a chronic state of self-denial, fear, and loneliness. For these individuals, movement becomes both punishment and permission — a way to manage anxiety, guilt, or shame. They don’t feel good unless they’ve earned it.
Maria Sorbara Mora:
Exactly. And what’s missing in treatment is an understanding of that biology. When someone stops exercising compulsively, they can experience withdrawal — irritability, temperature changes, depression, anxiety. It’s not a character flaw; it’s a chemical crash.
“Recovery isn’t about giving up exercise — it’s about learning to inhabit your body again.”
The Physiology of Recovery
Maria Sorbara Mora:
Part of our collaborative approach is medical and physiological assessment. We look at things like creatine kinase (CK) levels to assess muscle breakdown, as well as albumin and lipase levels that tell us how the body is coping with physical stress. Someone might look “fit” but be in a state of internal collapse. Their hormones, digestion, and immune function tell the real story.
Jessica Aronson:
That’s where holistic treatment matters; the mind, the body, and the spiritual center and heart of a person. We’re not just addressing behavior — we’re rebuilding the body’s sense of safety. Clients must learn what enough feels like — enough rest, enough nourishment, enough compassion. Through somatic work and mindfulness, we help them reconnect with their physical sensations. Fitness culture teaches dissociation — “go somewhere else” when it hurts. We teach the opposite: stay. Listen. Respond.
Rethinking What Strength Means
Maria Sorbara Mora:
I tell my clients all the time — rest is not the opposite of strength. Sometimes, it’s the bravest form of it. Our goal isn’t to demonize exercise, but to redefine it. Movement can be sacred again when it’s rooted in self-awareness, not self-punishment.
Jessica Aronson:
Exactly. Healing from exercise addiction isn’t about quitting movement. It’s about reclaiming relationship with the body — moving with it, not against it. It’s about remembering that the body isn’t a machine to master; it’s a living thing that deserves care.
“In recovery, movement becomes a dialogue, not a demand.”
Final Thoughts
Maria Sorbara Mora:
Freedom in movement means returning to presence — honoring the body as a source of wisdom, not a problem to fix.
Jessica Aronson:
And when that shift happens, exercise stops being a compulsion and starts becoming what it was always meant to be: connection.
About Maria Sorbara Mora, MS, R.D., CEDRD, C-IAYT
Maria is a registered dietitian, yoga therapist, and certified eating disorder specialist. She is the founder of Integrated Eating and Free Your Fitness (FYF) — programs that bridge nutrition science, mindfulness, and somatic work to help individuals recover from disordered eating and exercise addiction.
About Jessica Aronson, LCSW-R, ACSW, CGP, CEDS-S
Jessica is an EMDR trained Psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, trauma, and compulsive behaviors. With decades of experience integrating mind-body modalities, Jessica focuses on helping clients cultivate flexibility, vulnerability, and connection as foundations for lasting recovery.
Visit Maria Sorbara Mora’s website: https://www.integratedeating.com/
