Eating disorders and Excessive Exercise – University of Nottingham

This animation was commissioned by Professor Heike Bartel and her project Hungry for Words: Creative approaches to start the conversation about eating disorders in men.  The animation explores the link between eating disorders/disordered eating and excessive exercise. Individuals (of all genders, body shape, size and weight) who have exercised excessively as part of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and muscularity orientated eating disorder talk about their experience in their own words. The animation required a sensitive and considered approach, deep nuance, compassion and curiosity. The animation incorporates traditional hand-drawn animation with more modern motion graphics and the pallete moves from dark to light as we explore ways to notice, interrupt and redirect punitive movement towards mindfulness and gentle self-presence. It also encourages gym staff, sports teachers, coaches, personal trainers and those working in primary healthcare to start the sometimes difficult conversations that can lead to positive change and healing.