Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSignsCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Signs
Causes
Treatment
Physical activity is important for overall health, but when exercise becomes an addiction, it becomes harmful to your physical and mental health. Causes and risk factors of exercise addiction include genetics (biology), environmental conditions, and psychological factors. The good news is there are ways to cope with and overcome exercise addiction.
This article explores the signs of exercise addiction, as well as the causes, risk factors, and treatment.
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What Is Exercise Addiction?
While exercise addiction has not been accepted as a mental health disorder in theDSM-5, (“Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition”), researchers describe it as a behavioral addiction—excessive behavior that results in adverse consequences.
Similar to other addictions, a person with exercise addiction is aware of the negative impacts of their behavior and considers these consequences, but they proceed with excessive exercise anyway.
Exercise addiction itself is not a formal mental health diagnosis.Instead, it can be evaluated on the basis of models that rely on symptoms of behavioral and substance addiction. The Exercise Addiction Inventory, for example, includes six factors. They are:
Signs of Exercise Addiction
Some of the warning signs that you may be addicted to exercise include:
How Common Is Exercise Addiction?Based on available research about exercise addiction, it is estimated that about 3% of the general U.S. population may have an exercise addiction, but the prevalence can range from 3% to 42% depending on the type of exercise or athlete and how exercise addiction was assessed in the studies.
How Common Is Exercise Addiction?
Based on available research about exercise addiction, it is estimated that about 3% of the general U.S. population may have an exercise addiction, but the prevalence can range from 3% to 42% depending on the type of exercise or athlete and how exercise addiction was assessed in the studies.
Causes and Risk Factors
Exercise addiction develops in four phases:
Some of the risk factors that predict whether a person may become addicted to exercise are biological (such as genetics), environmental, or psychological. Environmental risk factors include negative peers and parental drug use. Psychological risk factors include lowself-esteem, juvenile delinquency, and low social conformity (they don’t adapt their behaviors and beliefs to fit in with a group).
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Related Health Conditions
Some conditions can be associated with exercise addiction. They include:
Keep in mind that exercise addiction may be a feature associated with a recognized condition like eating disorder, for example, and not an independent addiction. Some studies suggest that exercise addiction occurs more often in males and may be an expression of another diagnosis.
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Exercise Addiction vs. OCD
Although researchers have noted the similarities between OCD and exercise addiction, no studies have specifically examined the relationship between OCD and exercise addiction, so studies are needed to determine if they are comorbid (occurring together) conditions.
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Treatment for Exercise Addiction
Summary
While not everyone who exercises may develop exercise addiction, it’s important to know the causes, warning signs, risk factors, and when to seek treatment.
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6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Weinstein A, Szabo A.Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan 20;25(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841Lichtenstein MB, Hinze CJ, Emborg B, Thomsen F, Hemmingsen SD.Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:85-95. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S113093Lichtenstein MB, Melin AK, Szabo A, et al.The Prevalence of Exercise Addiction Symptoms in a Sample of National Level Elite Athletes. Front Sports Act Living. 2021 Jun 10;3:635418. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.635418Landolfi E.Exercise addiction.Sports Med. 2013;43(2):111-119. doi:10.1007/s40279-012-0013-xFreimuth M, Moniz S, Kim SR.Clarifying exercise addiction: differential diagnosis, co-occurring disorders, and phases of addiction.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011;8(10):4069-4081. doi:10.3390/ijerph8104069Weinstein A, Szabo A.Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan 20;25(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Weinstein A, Szabo A.Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan 20;25(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841Lichtenstein MB, Hinze CJ, Emborg B, Thomsen F, Hemmingsen SD.Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:85-95. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S113093Lichtenstein MB, Melin AK, Szabo A, et al.The Prevalence of Exercise Addiction Symptoms in a Sample of National Level Elite Athletes. Front Sports Act Living. 2021 Jun 10;3:635418. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.635418Landolfi E.Exercise addiction.Sports Med. 2013;43(2):111-119. doi:10.1007/s40279-012-0013-xFreimuth M, Moniz S, Kim SR.Clarifying exercise addiction: differential diagnosis, co-occurring disorders, and phases of addiction.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011;8(10):4069-4081. doi:10.3390/ijerph8104069Weinstein A, Szabo A.Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan 20;25(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Weinstein A, Szabo A.Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan 20;25(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841Lichtenstein MB, Hinze CJ, Emborg B, Thomsen F, Hemmingsen SD.Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:85-95. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S113093Lichtenstein MB, Melin AK, Szabo A, et al.The Prevalence of Exercise Addiction Symptoms in a Sample of National Level Elite Athletes. Front Sports Act Living. 2021 Jun 10;3:635418. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.635418Landolfi E.Exercise addiction.Sports Med. 2013;43(2):111-119. doi:10.1007/s40279-012-0013-xFreimuth M, Moniz S, Kim SR.Clarifying exercise addiction: differential diagnosis, co-occurring disorders, and phases of addiction.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011;8(10):4069-4081. doi:10.3390/ijerph8104069Weinstein A, Szabo A.Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan 20;25(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841.
Weinstein A, Szabo A.Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan 20;25(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841
Lichtenstein MB, Hinze CJ, Emborg B, Thomsen F, Hemmingsen SD.Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:85-95. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S113093
Lichtenstein MB, Melin AK, Szabo A, et al.The Prevalence of Exercise Addiction Symptoms in a Sample of National Level Elite Athletes. Front Sports Act Living. 2021 Jun 10;3:635418. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.635418
Landolfi E.Exercise addiction.Sports Med. 2013;43(2):111-119. doi:10.1007/s40279-012-0013-x
Freimuth M, Moniz S, Kim SR.Clarifying exercise addiction: differential diagnosis, co-occurring disorders, and phases of addiction.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011;8(10):4069-4081. doi:10.3390/ijerph8104069
Weinstein A, Szabo A.Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan 20;25(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841.
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