Anorexia and gyms

I don't think the gym has any responsibility. Gyms are use at your own risk.

All gyms have anorexics. I don't know that they have a right to make that judgement call or interfere in any official way, although a friend at the gym could certainly express concern. Just like a bar cannot throw out an alcoholic for their own well-being. It has to become an instance of safety before anyone can step in.

It's sad, I know.

The gym is only responsible for the safety of the patrons while they are in the gym using the facilities. Just like a grocery store isn't responsible for someone with health problems who shouldn't eat bad food, the gym isn't responsible for the decisions someone has made within their life. The gym is offering a service, that's it. That's from a Business legality standpoint. I know it's hard to see someone like that. I think the most we can do is hope and pray that there is someone in that person's inner circle helping her get some help.

There not doctors so the most that they can do is to tell her she needs to see a doctor. I don't think they would hold any responsibility. They can't kick her out and I'm sure their not going to close their business because of her either. We all want to help our fellow man but some things are out of our control and we have to watch our boundrys. The world isn't how it used to be' You used to to able just to help someone now if you do and something wrong happens you are the responsible so people shy away.

It's tricky. I have definitely seen it and I think many people on MFP are walking that fine line with "exercising to burn off ____ " as a punishment or for a reward, instead of just incorporating exercise and good diet into their everyday life- always just looking at numbers can be very dangerous and jading.

The people on MFP all have eating issues... clearly. Or we wouldn't all be struggling with our weight.

As to the original post;

Unfortunately it is no one's business what she does or doesn't do. The gym is not responsible for her eating habits and definitely not responsible for her working out habits. The only people who have any right to speak to her about her apparently alarming habits are those who are close to her personally.

All gyms have anorexics. I don't know that they have a right to make that judgement call or interfere in any official way, although a friend at the gym could certainly express concern. Just like a bar cannot throw out an alcoholic for their own well-being. It has to become an instance of safety before anyone can step in.

It's sad, I know.

Actually, a bar/restaurant owner, manager, or even waitress can kick someone out of the bar if they have had too much to drink and in some states, the server is liable for any crime or damage the drinker may do after they leave that establishment. This is not a preventative act of course, throwing a known abuser out before they've had a drink, but it still puts some responsibility on the establishment.

As for the original question, I'm sure all gyms have customers sign a waiver of liability. There might be a loop-hole I suppose if she were a guest or if it were a YMCA or other public gym? Maybe you could talk to a friend that works out with her or a trainer or maybe you could find some counseling resources in your area and give her their information and just say "I'm concerned for your health." It's tricky. I have definitely seen it and I think many people on MFP are walking that fine line with "exercising to burn off ____ " as a punishment or for a reward, instead of just incorporating exercise and good diet into their everyday life- always just looking at numbers can be very dangerous and jading.

I think it was meant as you can't kick someone out just because you know they drink on a daily basis, rather than kicking them out because they've had too much alcohol on the day. It made sense to me anyway hehe

It's a particularly tricky situation anyway because all people need exercise for good health, even if underweight. Also, it's a very difficult thing to judge - sure, you might see someone working out for a long time and make that judgement (which may or may not be valid) but see a super skinny person and you can't really be sure... for example they could be a cancer survivor who has struggled to regain the weight or something like that.

I think gyms generally encourage more exercise than is healthy (I guess that is their job?). Back when I was doing 6-8 gym classes per day, unaware that there was such a thing as too much exercise (I was a gym junkie that just loved it so much) I oonly ever was congratulated... it wasn't until I had my first stress fracture that I realised.

It is a problem but no, unfortunately not their responsibility.

I dunno... I don't think that someone who is truely anorexic would have the energy or strength to run for 2 hours, you know? They're generally very weak IME

Slim, possibly a bit underweight, yeah... You never know, she could be training for something. maybe start up a conversation one day next time you see her running for ages, ask if she just likes running, or if she's training for anything in particular.

But I think the term "anorexic" gets thrown around a lot and overused, just to describe very slim or underweight individuals. Just being skinny doesn't make someone anorexic, it's a brain thing. I had a friend who really was anorexic, she would hardly eat and really had the mental thing going on, yet she maintained a healthy-looking weight (which didn't help the anorexia and she saw no matter what she did she still stayed "fat"), but because of having next to NO fuel in her body, she could barely walk up a flight of stairs without needing to rest.

It's like gymnasts, are teeny tiny, but they're also super strong and really pack away the food because they train so hard, yet look very slim still.



But no, they gym shouldn't be intervening, its just not their place. Maybe if they're concerned they could take a similar approach to what I suggested, and have a trainer approach and ask if she is training for anything, and if s/he could be of any assistance suggesting some tips, which may then ascertain what the situation is.

I went to lawschool and passed the bar in CO but I don't practice. Still, I thought about this when I saw a severely underweight girl on the stair-climber at the gym. I thought it would make a great question for a lawschool exam. I don't think there is any law that makes the gym criminally responsible, or even criminally negligent, but I think there could be a tort/civil claim by the victim's family, although, I don't know how such a claim would fare in court. It is an intriguing question! Of course the gym could prevent her from working out there and they are not responsible for what she continues to do elsewhere. It does not "fix" the problem, but it clears them of responsibility.

saw this when I googled the question: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1202636/Gym-let-join-I-anorexic-step-treadmill-killed-me.html

can't believe it's London, not the US!

Wow! Did you read the comments after the article? It's scary to think most people have no compassion for the mentally ill. Even the picture of her now looks too thin. At 4.5 stone (I think that's about 60 pounds) she looked like a walking skeleton.

Most gyms make you sign a health waiver when you join and some require a doctor's note stateing you are fit to exercise. I wonder if the small print allows them to ask for this again from current members...

I have seen a few people that have exercise anorexia on Intervention. Only one completed treatment.
I hope people have compassion for what is clearly a mental illness, but they obviously resent a "blame the gym" mentality.
Maybe the gym should check weight or BMI before you are allowed to join but if it becomes dangerous after you have joined, what could they do?