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‘Ten minutes a day will make you significantly fitter’: personal trainers on the best home exercise kit

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‘Ten minutes a day will make you significantly fitter’: personal trainers on the best home exercise kit

Who among us hasn’t bought a piece of exercise kit only for it to gather dust in a corner, or start a new life as a clothing rack? That’s because, if trainer Dalton Wong is to be believed, we’ve been buying the wrong stuff.

“Only buy equipment that you’re going to use as part of your lifestyle,” says Wong, who trains everyone from award-winning actors to elite athletes. “We should do most of our cardiovascular training outside because we spend so much time inside. At home, work on strength, flexibility and mobility.”

Ty Paul, who gets Olympic athletes and Premier League footballers in peak condition, as well as running fitness classes for the over-60s, says that when it comes to home equipment, we should “buy something versatile that can be used for multiple fitness goals – and generations”. Here’s what the experts recommend you invest in, whatever your fitness level.

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Best for basic home workouts

“At home, you need three things: a form of resistance (weights, resistance bands or gliders); something restorative (a yoga mat); and something regenerative (a tennis ball, a foam roller or, if you have lots of money, a massage gun),” says Wong.


Weighted vest

“To burn extra calories, wear it throughout the day,” says Wong. “If you have a lighter vest, use it for low-intensity cardio, such as your bike ride or dog walk, to increase the demand on your body. Lastly, wear it to do resistance training. If you have a 5kg vest, with 2kg dumbbells in each hand, that’s 9kg of work you’re doing from squatting, lunging or push-ups.”

Buy: Hyper Vest weighted vest, from £67

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hyperwear.com


Tennis ball

“A lot of people get problems such as plantar fasciitis, sore feet and sore calves. Rolling a tennis ball under your foot is a great way to release that tissue. I also use it to roll my glutes out, so I sit on my bum, put my right ankle on my knee, put the tennis ball under the left side of my glutes and roll them out to break any knots. Lastly, with your back against the wall, put the tennis ball where your scapular – or shoulder blade – is and roll up and down. That releases the muscles between your shoulder blades through the middle part of your back.”

Buy: Tennis-Point Premium 3 ball tube, £3.90

tennis-point.co.uk


AVOID: Muscle-stimulating machines

“You cannot put on an ab-stimulating machine while eating Doritos and watching Love Island, and expect to look like the contestants on Love Island,” says Wong. “There is science behind the medical-grade versions, but six sessions at a private clinic will cost you in the region of £3,000. People who use those machines – such as Rafael Nadal – are already in great shape.”

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“You need to make sure you’re performing exercises correctly, so if you’re following online videos, look for people who are renowned for their fitness knowledge,” says Michelle Griffith Robinson, a former Olympic triple-jumper, who’s now a trainer and specialist in fitness for perimenopausal and menopausal women. “Check their qualifications, and look at how long they’ve been in the business.”

Perimenopausal and menopausal women need to focus on building muscle. “Strength-train first using your bodyweight by doing press-ups against the wall, squats, step-ups on your staircase, single leg lunges. Once you can do that, add weights.” Also tune in to your body. “During this transition, energy levels are depleted. Get into the fresh air to exercise two or three times a week and the endorphins will help. But sometimes, with the greatest will in the world, exercise is a tall order, so be kind to yourself.”


Set of stackable weights

“Weight training helps prevent osteoporosis and makes us feel stronger so we can do our daily activities: gardening, cleaning, bending, lifting,” says Griffith Robinson. “With weights, start off with your own bodyweight, then add on weights to do some squats and presses, assisted lunges, and compound movements like a shoulder press into a deep squat and back into a shoulder press.”

Buy: Neoprene dumbbell hand weights, £64.99

proiron.com

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Skipping rope

“They can travel with you anywhere. Ten minutes a day will improve your fitness significantly and is great way to control your pelvic floor. This is a good replacement for running when it’s terrible weather.”

Buy: Opti 9ft skipping rope, £7

argos.co.uk


AVOID: Abdominal rollers

“Strengthen your core naturally,” says Griffith Robinson. “Double up your skipping rope and hold it out in front of you, nice and taut, and go into a squat position. That will work your core, rather than an ab roller, which is going to shorten your muscles and your hip flexors. Planks on your elbows or hands are fantastic too. Imagine someone has a ruler across your back so you cannot dip. Hold that for 30 seconds on, 15 seconds off; or build up from 15 seconds to 20, 25, then 30.”


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Best for older exercisers

When it comes to older clients, Ty Paul is clear: “They are a lot fitter than people think.” He suggests working on range of movement and flexibility “because we stiffen up as we age”. Strength training is also crucial “for bone density, but you don’t need to go heavy – my over-60s group use a resistance band, and some people use two tins of baked beans”. Ensure your workout is suitable for you and is age-appropriate. “But also find something you enjoy, so you’re more likely to sustain it,” says Paul.


BlazePods

Beloved by professional athletes across sports including tennis, basketball and football, this is a “flash reflex training” system, where you use your hands, knees or feet to tap pods that light up in a variety of colours, for drills and games.

Illuminated BlazePods make for a fun training system and can improve agility.

“I use them with Premier League footballers to improve reaction times, decision making, agility and core stability,” says Paul. “I also use them with over-60s; it helps with coordination. If you’re improving that, you’re preventing falls.” The pods link to an app, so you can track progress. “A lady I train has Parkinson’s, and her doctor said there was no point exercising as it was better to stick with medication. We gave BlazePods a go, and after a year, she’s fitter and stronger than ever.”

Buy: Starter kit, £349

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NOHRD SwingBells

“These are like kettlebells, but more luxurious, says Paul. “They consist of a wooden handle and a leather bag filled with iron pellets, and they’re beautiful to look at. You can use them for cardiovascular fitness, muscle toning and core stability, as well as all dumbbell and kettlebell exercises . They help range of movement and coordination; you can isolate parts of your body, and do all-round body fitness. SwingBells aren’t cheap, but they stand the test of time.”

Buy: SwingBells Set Club, £98

nohrd.com


AVOID: Medicine balls

“A medicine ball – a weighted ball – provides you with a limited number of options as it’s mainly used to perform one exercise: Russian twists, whereas SwingBells, kettlebells or dumbbells have multiple uses. I have a vintage leather medicine ball in my gym, but it’s an ornament. I’ve been in that gym for 18 years and I’ve never once taken it off the shelf,” says Paul.

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Best for targeted improvement

When working out at home, says Kerri Major – a Glasgow-based personal trainer and sports dietitian – it’s important to enjoy what you’re doing, but also make progress. “A lot of people come into a gym and randomly pick what they like doing, but random training is only going to give you random results.”


Kettlebells

“You can buy different weights of kettlebell, allowing you to progress from a strength point of view. They’re useful for functional training too, because they allow us to use our own body to support our balance.” In terms of moves, says Major, “you can do goblet squats with one kettlebell or, if you have two, front squats with one in each arm. You can also do Romanian deadlifts or conventional deadlifts from the floor. For lunges, hold them in different positions to challenge you in different ways. For the upper body, you can do overhead presses, rows, presses from your chest, and biceps and triceps options, where you can load in different ways.”

Buy: Primal Pro Series Cast Kettlebell, £19,99

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Pull-up bar

“A lot of people struggle to do vertical pulls at home,” says Major. “Pull-ups aren’t all about bragging rights: you can do different variations depending on how you have your hands, which helps us to target lots of different muscle groups. Often, people think it’s just squats and deadlifts that matter, but your upper body is so important in everyday life, for everything from reaching up to carrying heavy shopping.”

Buy: Universal door pull-up bar, £39.95

gravity.fitness


AVOID: Vibrating weights

“Power plates came first and were marketed as a way to tone up and lose weight, because you need to use your core strength to make sure you’re not wobbling. Then came vibrating hand weights, but there are more far more useful ways to train.”

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Best for during and after pregnancy

“The safest way to alleviate pregnancy symptoms is with exercise,” says Kira Mahal, personal trainer and founder of Motivate PT, who specialises in pregnancy and postpartum fitness. “In your first trimester, movement will help with sickness; in your second, your energy levels peak so you can increase strength training; then in the third, up the ante by strengthening your pelvic floor.”

Mahal points out some important rules for pregnancy fitness. “Don’t get too out of breath, because that can restrict airflow to the foetus,” she says. “Don’t do deep abdominal twists; and don’t lie on your back, because that will restrict blood flow. Avoid overstretching, because pregnancy makes us more flexible as we have relaxin in our bodies [a hormone produced by the ovaries and placenta]. And finally, pregnancy is absolutely not a time for rapid weight loss.”

Postpartum, wait six weeks after a vaginal birth, or 12 weeks after a c-section, to exercise. “Then it’s all recovery work. The idea of ‘snapping back’ is nonsense; our bodies change forever, and that needs to be embraced. But I’m in the strongest physical shape of my life after two kids.”

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Resistance bands

“These are the holy grail for anyone, and a gentle way to build strength,” says Mahal. “You can incorporate a resistance band into almost any exercise: put it above your knees for a banded squat, do reps in and out with your knees pulsing, or do biceps curls holding the handles and curl upwards with one end around your foot.”

Mirafit.co.uk – Mini Resistance Band Set

Buy: Mini resistance-band set (pictured), £7.95

mirafit.co.uk

Set of five resistance bands, £12.50

johnlewis.com

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Swiss ball

Also known as a stability ball, yoga ball or balance ball, a Swiss ball is like a space hopper but without the horns. It is used for core stability and strength exercises. “Sitting on it you find your centre of balance, which you lose when you’re pregnant,” says Mahal. “It’s a nice way to incorporate stability exercises, balance exercises and pelvic tilts. It helps to rock back and forth on it at the end of your third trimester when you can be very uncomfortable. You can also use it to assist exercises, so for a wall squat, put the ball underneath you for some added safety.”

Buy: Exercise ball, £15

johnlewis.com


AVOID: Anything high-impact

“We don’t want pregnant women skipping, sprinting on a treadmill, or jumping on a trampoline. Also avoid online Hiit classes. Women come to us injured all the time because they shouldn’t be doing certain exercises. Postpartum, women are doing abdominal crunches at six weeks, when they might have abdominal separation, and crunches will make that worse.”


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Best for people with disabilities

“I tend to see a fear of exercise with my clients, because in the past they have had trips and falls, which result in injuries,” says Dom Thorpe, who provides personal training for people with disabilities and chronic conditions. “I see people with fatigue-based conditions who have gone too hard too fast. Managing intensity is important, but so is ensuring that exercises are performed safely, with fallback plans. If you have bad balance, for example, do things seated or where you have your sofa behind you, so if you fall, you fall safely.”


Adjustable dumbbells

“These look like one massive dumbbell, but they have a little dial that you twist to select the weight you want, so when you pick that up the rest are left on the floor. You can have something that ranges from 2.5kg to 25kg in one set of dumbbells rather than having an entire rack, so it’s a space saver, too.” Moves-wise, says Thorpe: “You can squat or do a sit-to-stand for the lower body, with the dumbbells dangling in your hands beside you. For the upper body, push forwards in your seat to work your chest and triceps. Pull backwards to target the upper back and the biceps, and push upwards, directly above your head.”

Buy: BodyMax 25kg Selectabell adjustable dumbbell, £189

fitshop.co.uk

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Active Hands

“When people attempt to lift a heavy weight, it’s not necessarily their arm strength that gives up on them, it’s their grip strength. With active hands, a Velcro strap holds the dumbbells in place and fastens it, limiting the risk of injuries. The only downside is you usually need someone else to fasten them.”

Buy: Active Hands general purpose gripping aid, £73.42

amazon.co.uk


AVOID: Vibration platforms

“My university led the research into these, and I participated. Scientists had me stand on a vibrating platform in a squatted position, with electrodes attached to my muscles, and measured whether it was more stimulating than me just standing in a squatted position. It was, but it was no more stimulating than me holding some weights and doing squats. Similarly, doing press-ups on the vibrating platform is more challenging than a standard press-up, but not more challenging than doing a bench press, or a dumbbell press.”

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Fitness

Home Gym Supplies Squat Rack Cage Package Released to Market for Exercise Lovers by Strongway Gym Supplies

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Home Gym Supplies Squat Rack Cage Package Released to Market for Exercise Lovers by Strongway Gym Supplies

Coventry, UK – March 02, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

Strongway Gym Supplies has released squat rack cage packages to the market for exercise enthusiasts across the United Kingdom. The packages combine squat cage frames with safety features suited to home-based strength training, now available through the company’s online platform.

The power cage design centres on four vertical posts connected by horizontal crossbeams. Adjustable safety bars mount between the posts at various heights, catching the barbell if a lift cannot be completed. This safety mechanism becomes relevant during heavy squats or bench presses performed without a training partner present to assist with failed attempts.

J-hooks secure the barbell at the proper beginning positions for various exercises by fastening to the posts at predetermined heights. Quick adjustments between squats, presses, and other barbell movements are made possible by the hooks’ ability to slide up or down the posts and lock into position using pin mechanisms. Depending on the exercise being done, pull-up bars that extend across the top of the frame provide grip positions that vary from wide to narrow.

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Mandip Walia, Co-Director at Strongway Gym Supplies, said the cage addresses concerns people have about training alone at home. “Without someone there to spot, there’s always the question of what happens if the weight gets too heavy midway through a set,” he noted. “The safety bars remove that worry. Position them correctly and they’ll catch the bar before it pins someone. That makes a genuine difference in how hard someone can train when working solo, especially on exercises like squats where bail-out options are limited.”

Steel tubing forms the frame structure, with powder-coated finishes applied to resist corrosion in garage environments where humidity fluctuates. Bolt-together construction allows the cage to be disassembled if relocation becomes necessary, though the assembled weight often exceeds 100 kilograms once all components are secured together.

Weight storage pegs project from the rear posts on most models, keeping plates within reach whilst adding mass that stabilises the frame during use. The pegs typically accommodate enough plates to load a barbell for intermediate to advanced training sessions without running out of storage capacity.

The complete range of home fitness equipment, include squat racks, is available to be explored at: https://strongway.co.uk/collections/home-fitness.

The cages fit into garages, spare rooms, and basement areas commonly found in UK residential properties. Height clearance sits around 210 centimetres for most models, working under standard ceiling heights but potentially tight in older homes or loft conversions where ceilings run lower. Floor space requirements roughly match that of a small garden shed once the cage stands fully assembled.

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The width of the frame includes the length of the Olympic barbell and the space needed to safely enter and exit during exercises. If the dimensions are too narrow, the posts get in the way of natural movement patterns. If they are too wide, they take up too much floor space. Most manufacturers try to find a balance between these factors, but the exact measurements vary from model to model.

Band pegs feature on some cages, providing anchor points at floor level for resistance bands. This allows accommodating resistance during squats and presses, where band tension increases as the bar rises through the movement. The technique has found followers among strength training practitioners, though it remains less widespread than traditional plate loading.

Full details about the squat rack power cage can be viewed at: https://strongway.co.uk/products/strongway-multi-gym-squat-rack-power-cage.

Randeep Walia, Co-Director at Strongway Gym Supplies, remarked that cage packages align with how people actually approach home training. “Training at home has proven effective for improving muscle strength, endurance, and power when maintained consistently,” he explained. “Frequency matters more than location. Training more than three times weekly produces better outcomes, and having a cage at home eliminates the travel time and scheduling constraints that often interrupt consistency. The cage becomes the foundation. Everything else—bench, bar, plates—gets arranged around it.”

Dispatch runs across mainland UK addresses with timelines confirmed during checkout. The cages arrive in multiple boxes given the size and weight of individual components. Instructions guide assembly, though managing the heavier frame sections works considerably better with two people rather than attempting solo construction.

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Packages can be purchased as cage-only units or complete setups that include benches, barbells, and weight plates. Pricing reflects the total equipment included, with buyers selecting options based on what they already own versus what needs acquiring.

The release tracks with patterns observed in the UK home fitness market where demand for core strength training equipment holds steady. Power cages appeal to users seeking barbell training capabilities with built-in safety features, particularly relevant for individuals training without supervision or access to spotters during heavier lifting sessions.

Those interested in exploring the range of exercise equipment available at Strongway Gym Supplies can visit: https://strongway.co.uk/.

###

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For more information about Strongway Gym Supplies, contact the company here:

Strongway Gym Supplies
Mandip Walia
+44-800-001-6093
sales@strongway.co.uk
Strongway Gym Supplies, 26 The Pavilion, Coventry CV3 1QP, United Kingdom

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@xpr.media

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At 72, Oprah swears by this specific move for full-body strength – here’s why it’s so effective

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At 72, Oprah swears by this specific move for full-body strength – here’s why it’s so effective

Oprah Winfrey, 72, has been vocal about her weight loss journey in recent years, revealing that maintaining fitness, particularly through strength training, has been crucial while using GLP-1s. Such is her love for these newfound fitness habits that she even did a 72-minute workout to celebrate her 72nd birthday earlier this year.

Now, the talk show host has taken to Instagram to share with her followers a specific strength move that has quickly become a staple in her routine: kettlebell swings.

Why are kettlebell swings effective?

‘Kettlebell swings are one of the most efficient movements because they combine strength, power and cardiovascular conditioning in one exercise,’ says Alice Jordan, a women’s strength and hormone health coach. ‘They target the posterior chain – glutes, hamstrings and lower back – which is especially important for women as we age, helping to improve posture, reduce back pain and support metabolism.’

Jordan adds that kettlebell swings ‘also elevate the heart rate quickly, making them ideal for busy women who want maximum results in minimal time,’ and that when incorporated into your routine correctly, they ‘can improve fat loss, core stability and overall functional strength, which carries over into everyday movement and injury prevention.’

Another key benefit that makes kettlebell swings such an effective movement for women as they age? ‘They help build explosive strength and bone density – both crucial for women during and after menopause.’

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How to do kettlebell swings

It’s important to take the time to properly learn the right technique – as Oprah said she did. Alongside the video she posted on Instagram of her performing the exercise, Oprah wrote ‘I first saw other people doing kettlebell swings so skillfully that I didn’t attempt them for at least a year! Now Trainer Peter is always right by my side to course correct me so I’m doing them right – and I think I finally got the swing of them.’

Explaining how to do kettlebell swings, Jordan says that ‘the movement should come from the hips, not the lower back or shoulders. Think about pushing your hips back, keeping your spine neutral, and then powerfully driving the hips forward. This helps target the glutes and reduces the risk of injury.’

When it comes to ensuring that you choose the right weight, Jordan adds that a ‘good starting point for most women is a kettlebell between 6-10kg – but the key is that it should feel challenging enough to drive the hips forward without using the arms.’

‘If you can easily lift it with your shoulders, it’s usually too light. Many beginners actually benefit from going slightly heavier so they learn proper hip hinge mechanics,’ she flags.

How often to do kettlebell swings

So, how often should you do the move per week? ‘For beginners, I’d typically recommend starting with 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps, focusing on good technique and plenty of rest between sets,’ says Jordan. ‘The priority early on is learning the hip hinge and building confidence with the movement, rather than pushing volume too quickly.’

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Doing this 2-3 times per week works well for most beginners, she adds, as it ‘allows enough time to recover while still building strength, power and cardiovascular fitness.’ When your technique and fitness improve, you ‘can gradually increase either the number of sets or include swings as part of full-body workouts.’

‘It’s also helpful for beginners to keep sessions relatively short and stop before fatigue affects form, as this reduces the risk of injury and helps reinforce good movement patterns.’

Common mistakes to avoid

Jordan says common mistakes to avoid include:

  • Turning the swing into a squat rather than a hinge
  • Lifting the kettlebell with the arms instead of letting momentum and hip power do the work
  • Rounding the back and going too heavy too quickly

It really is important to be patient and take some time to get your form exactly right – as it will mean you’ll get the most out of the exercise in the long run.


Headshot of Hannah Bradfield

Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women’s Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis.  She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner’s World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity.  A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She’s always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.

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The Workout Habit That Can Become Harm

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The Workout Habit That Can Become Harm

If your day begins with a HIIT class and ends with the saintly glow of “I’ve been good,” you’re not alone. Regular movement can lighten stress, settle anxiety, and generally make the world feel a little less like a group chat on deadline. But for a small group of gym-goers, exercise addiction isn’t a punchline or a humblebrag — it’s a real behavioural pattern that can quietly bulldoze daily life.

Researchers in Budapest have suggested that for around 0.3 to 0.5% of gym-goers, working out and the quest for ultimate wellness can tip into unhealthy obsession. And a separate study from Anglia Ruskin University found the risk rises sharply for people with a history of eating disorders — with researchers reporting you’re nearly four times more likely to experience exercise addiction if you’ve previously had anorexia or bulimia.

It’s an uncomfortable twist, because exercise is supposed to be the good bit. The socially approved coping mechanism. The one that gets likes, not concerned phone calls.

Why “Healthy” Can Be a Convenient Disguise

Wellness culture has a curious magic trick: it can make rigid rules look like discipline. Eight hours’ sleep becomes a badge of honour. “Clean eating” becomes a personality. And a workout missed can feel, for some, less like a rest day and more like a moral failure.

That’s what makes compulsive exercise hard to spot — especially during or after recovery from disordered eating. To friends and family, it can look like someone has “sorted themselves out.” Under the surface, the engine can be the same: fear, control, anxiety — just with different gym kit.

As Eating Disorders Awareness Week begins (March 2–8), we spoke to experts about wellness, disordered exercise, and the additional risks for those with a history of eating disorders.

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Can Eating Disorders Be Replaced by Exercise Addiction?

Kerrie Jones, a psychotherapist specialising in eating disorders and clinical director of treatment centre Orri, says eating disorders and exercise addiction often share the same roots — and the same function.

“Eating disorders, like exercise addiction, arise when we have lived through an experience – or lots of different experiences – that have taught us that we’re not safe in our day-to-day lives,” she says.

“Obsessing about food, weight or exercise is a behavioural mechanism that has developed as a means of keeping us feeling safe and in control when otherwise we’d feel overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.”

Jones explains that these behaviours can narrow a person’s focus to what feels measurable and manageable — calories, reps, weight, shape — while masking the deeper fear underneath.

“We call these ‘maladaptive’ coping mechanisms, as they develop through seemingly good intentions, but to the detriment of our longer-term physical and mental health.

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“Sometimes, when people reach a point in their recovery where they are stable and functioning, they may move from an obsessive relationship to food, to an obsessive relationship to exercise.”

And because exercise is widely applauded — and often actively encouraged — the behaviour can stick around far longer than people realise.

“It’s a much more socially accepted and idolised means of maintaining obsessive behavioural patterns,” says Jones, which means it can linger for years before someone seeks help.

What Drives Exercise Addiction Psychologically?

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There’s rarely one neat cause. It’s more often an overlap of biology, social pressure, past experiences, and psychology — with a particular role for trauma and learned patterns of control.

“There’s no one reason or cause why someone might develop an eating disorder or exercise addiction, however, it’s often a combination of social, genetic and psychological factors,” says Jones. “Commonly, we find a negative life experience or traumatic experience at the root.”

Chartered psychologist and Healthspan ambassador Dr Meg Aroll says more research is needed specifically on exercise addiction, but we already know a lot about how behavioural addictions operate — particularly the loop of compulsive thoughts and repeated behaviours.

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“We know that it’s important to change patterns of ruminative and compulsive thoughts in people with behavioural addictions, which is why treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy are likely to be of help.”

In plain terms: it’s not about willpower. It’s about patterns — and treating what’s driving them.

Signs to Watch For: When Training Turns Compulsive

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There’s no single template for exercise addiction. People don’t present in one uniform way, and “looking fit” tells you precisely nothing about what’s happening mentally.

But there are common warning signs, especially when exercise becomes less about wellbeing and more about relief, guilt, or control.

Jones says a person might:

  • Feel guilt and shame about missing exercise routines
  • Keep secrecy around how much they’re exercising
  • Continue to workout when ill, exhausted or injured
  • Prioritise exercise repeatedly over family, friends, work, and recovery

That last point matters. Training that regularly trumps relationships, rest, or basic health isn’t “dedication.” It’s a red flag waving in fluorescent gym lighting.

Does Social Media Make It Worse?

Social media can be supportive — community can be a lifeline — but it can also validate compulsive habits. A life organised entirely around workouts can look, online, like “motivation,” when the reality might be anxiety management dressed up as routine.

“For people who are predisposed to eating disorders or behavioural addictions, wellness culture can appear to support and condone this type of maladaptive behaviour,” says Aroll.

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“However, on its own, wellness and social media culture is not to blame – someone with such conditions will have a complex combination of factors in their life leading to their symptoms, which should be investigated fully and treated professionally.”

Jones adds that if you know you have an addictive personality, it’s worth curating your feed with intent — and unfollowing content that escalates guilt, restriction, body obsession, or punishment narratives.

What To Do If You’re Worried About Someone

The hardest part is saying something — and the most important part is saying it well. Jones recommends addressing it directly, but with care around timing, tone, and what you focus on.

“It’s important to broach the topic with them directly as their physical and mental health may be severely at risk,” says Jones. “Pick a time to talk when emotions aren’t running high, and where possible, try and avoid talking about exercise specifically or the more symptomatic aspects of exercise addiction or their eating disorder.

“Instead, focus your questions and concerns on how they’re feeling, underneath their day-to-day activities.

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“Keep in mind that there are specialists out there who can help and the charity Beat has numerous resources on how to have a difficult conversation with someone.”

In other words: aim beneath the behaviour, toward the emotion.

Do We Need a Broader Conversation About “Healthy”?

Here’s the tricky bit. Health professionals rightly champion exercise for physical and mental health. But for people recovering from eating disorders — or with a vulnerability to compulsive behaviours — messaging can land differently. “More is better” can become a permission slip for harm.

“I think there needs to be a broader conversation about what it means to be ‘healthy’ and to live a ‘healthy lifestyle’,” says Jones. “What works for some, may not work for others, particularly if they’ve suffered with an eating disorder in the past and would have trouble maintaining a normal relationship to exercise and food.”

Jones says clinicians assessing physical health need to consider personal history and the intention behind the behaviour.

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“If possible, we need to investigate the intention associated with exercise and unpick the feelings that arise before, during and after exercising.”

That’s the real measuring stick. Not calories burned, not streaks kept alive, not the smug serenity of a kale smoothie. If movement helps you live more freely, it’s doing its job. If it’s tightening the cage — especially in recovery — it’s time to call it what it may be: exercise addiction, and something that deserves proper support, not applause.

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