When does exercise turn into an eating disorder? Studies have indicated that approximately 5 percent of all women suffer from the well-known eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia or binge eating disorder). But compulsive exercising, also called exercise bulimia, is another way to purge food from one's body; the same way an anorexic or bulimic might do it with vomiting or the use of laxatives. 4% of Americans and 10-12% of gym-goers suffer from the disease . . .