By Elyse Miller, News Channel 3 Reporter
emiller@kesq.com

LOMA LINDA - There's very a thin line between just enough and too much. When you cross that line, it can be dangerous, even deadly. Eating and exercise disorders are on the rise affecting people of all ages, not only women, but men, too. Social pressures, perfectionism, a desire to fit in - these are just some of the causes.

He's fit, toned, motivated. People admire his physique, his commitment and willpower. Yet, his passion for perfection almost killed him.

"It was controlling me, taking from me," says Brad Hess.

"It's what we call passive suicidality," says Katie Keck, Clinical Therapist at Loma Linda University's Behavioral Medicine Center. " You're killing yourself slowly and painfully."

Seventeen year old, Brad Hess is a high school football player. Now, he looks healthy, but five months, at 6 feet tall, he weighed only one hundred and nineteen pounds. His face was sunken in and his ribs were protruding. He was emotionally, physically and mentally starved.

"I thought this was the healthy thing to do," says Hess.

Hess is recovering from a not-so-rare disorder - anorexia combined with over exercise. He's not alone, millions suffer from these disorders and the numbers continue growing.

"It's less of a female dominated disorder," says Keck. " Now it's becoming more widespread, more diagnosed in men. The more lean body is becoming more popular in our culture."

Hess wanted to fit the mold.

"I had a girlfriend and felt I had to be perfect for her, nothing could be wrong with my body," says Hess.

Hess lived by numbers, counting every calorie.

"I had rules for what I ate. It was sad, If I even ate a carrot I would do 20 push-ups," says Hess. " It was so compulsive, I felt everything I ate had to be burned off. I couldn't stop exercising."

He went from running one mile a day to eight miles a day. Soon, every second of every day and night, he was working out or thinking about it.

"I had anxiety that I would get fat overnight," says Hess. " I could feel fat growing on my stomach. I really though I could feel it. I'd think why am I sleeping when I can exercise."

For most people, a jog or a workout is something you don't exactly want to do, but you do it anyway to get in shape and stay healthy. For someone with exercise addiction a workout is more than a simple daily task, it's a complete obsession.

They'll skip work, school or social events which leaves them secluded and alone.

"I didn't want to hang out with friends, I just wanted to exercise," says Hess.

As his exercise increased, his food intake decreased to about 300 calories a day.

His relationships and grades suffered. Brad lost his girlfriend, friends and family.

"It tore my family apart," says Hess. "My mom was always crying and my dad was always yelling at me. My brother and sister wouldn't talk to me, but I didn't care."

That's only the beginning.

"You're not getting nutrients to the brain," says Keck. "You can't think or remember."

"I look back and it's ridiculous, but I couldn't think normally," says Hess.

Under eating/over exercise disorders also attack vital organs and lead to bone loss, heart attacks, even death. Yet, victims are blind to it all.

"It's healthy, that's what I thought," says Hess.

At first, so did everyone else.

"People started telling me, you look good, your losing weight," says Hess.

"It's part of the hook, initially you get positive reinforcement," says Keck.

Perfectionism and control are among the top causes of eating and exercise disorders. By following strict rules, Hess thought he was in control.

"I'd run laps in the backyard until I felt like passing out," says Hess. " It was an empowering feeling. I thought, good I won't get fat.

Hess' family and friends didn't understand. They'd tell him to eat and stop working out so much, but it wasn't that simple.

"I was scared, I was really scared of getting fat," says Hess.

"That seems logical, you need to eat so eat," says Keck. " It's much deeper than that, it becomes an addiction."

As the disorder proved too strong, Hess agreed to undergo intensive treatment, lasting about 5 months.

"When I got re-fed and started eating again, things became more clear," says Hess.

He is now in recovery, he works out less and eats more.

"It's a total balance," says Hess. " Look at me now, I'm strong and healthy."

Hess has gained 60 pounds and a new outlook on food, exercise and life.

"I feel healthy, I declare freedom over it," says Hess.

Hess has been in recovery for 3 months now. Keck says the key to fast recovery is catching the disorder early. Here are some warning signs for eating and exercise disorders:

~ Rigid eating patterns - avoids eating in public

~ Preoccupation with calories, exercise and body weight

~ Anxiety, mood swings or fatigue

~ Irregular menstrual cycles

~ Extreme sensitivity to cold

~ Isolation

~ Prepares meals for others, but not self

~ Feels guilt after eating or when missing a workout

~ Rapid weight loss

~ Lying about food or exercise

For more information on eating/exercise disorders call Loma Linda University's Behavioral Medicine Center at 909-558-9275, or click on the links on the side of this page.