They see a physician because of a physical illness or they turn to a psychiatrist because of a depression or eating disorder. Some are treated at the Renfrew Center in Philadelphia, a women-only facility for people with eating disorders. Molly Salyard is an exercise physiologist at Renfrew. She works with therapists, physicians and nurses to help women with eating disorders establish a healthy workout routine. Obsessive-compulsive exercisers, in Salyard's experience, often suffer from enormous levels of emotional pain.
Exercise becomes their only companion.
Victoria Marcinkowski is a freelance writer and avid runner. Where the region turns for local sports.