There’s a difference between being healthy and pushing your body to its limits day after day at the gym. Maybe you find as many ways as possible to fit as many extra workouts as possible into your day, even if it means missing another commitment.
You might be dealing with exercise addiction, also known as exercise dependence.
This condition might sound harmless, and it’s not easy to notice when somebody crosses into an unhealthy place that negatively impacts emotional, physical, and mental health.
Fortunately, with proper education and treatment, individuals can learn to enjoy exercise in a healthy, balanced way.
What Is an Exercise Addiction?
Exercise addiction is a behavioral addiction in which a person becomes obsessed with physical activity and feels compelled to exercise excessively, regardless of its adverse effects on their mind and body.
For some individuals, the positive feelings associated with exercise can cause them to prioritize working out above everything else.
Exercise addiction is characterized by a person’s inability to stop exercising, even when injured, ill, or fatigued, despite their exercise habits interfering with other important aspects of their life, such as work, family, and social relationships.
People with exercise addiction may also experience symptoms such as anxiety, depression, irritability, and restlessness when unable to exercise and may feel a sense of guilt or shame if they miss a workout or fail to achieve their training goals.
Do Exercise Addiction Urges Go Away?
Exercise addiction urges may not go away on their own, and, in fact, they may become stronger over time without proper intervention.
Like other forms of addiction, exercise addiction can be difficult to overcome without professional help. Individuals with this condition may need therapy or counseling to learn coping strategies and establish healthier habits.
In some cases, individuals with exercise addiction may need to take a break from exercise or limit their activity to allow their bodies to recover and heal.
This can be challenging, as it may trigger feelings of anxiety or guilt, but it is an essential step towards restoring balance and improving overall health.
Forms of Exercise Addiction
Here are a few common types of exercise addiction that one may experience:
- Bodybuilding Addiction: Bodybuilding addiction is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with muscularity and body image and a compulsive need to build muscle mass and achieve the “perfect” body.
- Running Addiction: Running addiction is characterized by an obsessive need to run, often for long distances or at high speeds, and a compulsive drive to improve performance and achieve personal bests.
- Exercise Bulimia: Exercise bulimia is characterized by a pattern of bingeing and purging, in which individuals engage in excessive exercise to “burn off” calories consumed during binge eating episodes.
- Fitness Tracker Addiction: Fitness tracker addiction is a relatively new phenomenon characterized by an obsessive need to track and record exercise and fitness data, often using wearable devices such as smartwatches or fitness trackers.
Exercise Addiction Statistics
Consider the following statistics from notable medic journals that have conducted numerous studies on the effects of exercise addiction:
- According to a study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, an estimated 0.3-0.5 percent of the general population may meet the criteria for exercise addiction.
- A study published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions found that among college students, 3.4 percent met the criteria for exercise addiction.
- The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) reports that up to 42 percent of individuals with anorexia nervosa engage in compulsive exercise.
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that exercise addiction can co-occur with other forms of addiction, such as substance abuse, and may be particularly common among individuals with a history of addiction.
- A study found that around 3 percent of the total gym-going population is at risk for exercise addiction.
What Are the Signs of an Exercise Addiction?
Here are the most common signs of someone suffering from an exercise addiction:
- Prioritizing exercise over other essential life activities or responsibilities: When training takes priority over important life events, such as work, school, or social obligations, it may be a sign of a more severe problem.
- Feeling anxious or irritable when unable to exercise: If someone feels anxious, restless, or irritable when unable to exercise, it could indicate a heavy dependence or addiction.
- Engaging in exercise despite injury or illness: Those who have an addiction to exercise will often continue to exercise despite injury or illness.
- Exercising in isolation or at odd hours: When engaging in excessive exercise alone or at odd hours to avoid social interaction or conflicts, it’s a sign that there might be a looming addiction.
- Obsessively tracking exercise or fitness data: Becoming overly fixated on tracking exercise or fitness data, such as step counts or calorie burn, may be problematic.
It can be challenging to see the signs of exercise addiction, as some people may not recognize that their exercise habits are problematic, or they may be in denial about its negative impact on their life.
Since some level of exercise is necessary for maintaining physical and mental health, it’s hard to determine when exercise has crossed the line from beneficial to addictive.
That said, if individuals feel they cannot control their urge to exercise, they should seek professional help.
Types of Unhealthy Exercise Behavior
Expounding on the signs of addiction above, here’s a breakdown of some of the most unhealthy behaviors related to various exercise addictions.
Individuals with this addiction may spend excessive amounts of time in the gym lifting weights and may use anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs to enhance their results.
For example, they may run despite injuries or fatigue and may experience issues such as stress fractures, depression, and anxiety.
This addiction can be dangerous, leading to extreme weight loss, malnutrition, and other health complications depending on which symptoms you or someone you know might be presenting.
People with an exercise addiction may become fixated on achieving step or calorie goals and may experience anxiety or distress when they do not meet their targets. This mentality can also lead to over-exercising and burnout.
While exercise is generally considered a healthy behavior, exercise addiction can have serious consequences, including physical injuries, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and eating disorders. Therefore, it is critical to seek professional help if you or someone you know may be struggling with exercise addiction.
What Is the Main Cause of Exercise Addiction?
There is no single cause of exercise addiction. It is a complex disorder that can arise from a combination of genetic, environmental, psychological, and social factors.
Some potential causes of exercise addiction include a genetic predisposition to addiction, an obsessive personality or tendency towards perfectionism, a history of trauma or abuse, low self-esteem or body image issues, and societal pressure to be fit and physically attractive.
Additionally, some individuals can develop an exercise addiction to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression. Remember that while certain risk factors may be associated with exercise addiction, they can affect anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.
How Exercise Addiction Affects the Brain
Exercise addiction can impact the brain’s reward system. Regular exercise stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, which are associated with pleasure and reward.
In individuals with exercise addiction, the reward system in the brain may become dysregulated, leading to a compulsive need to exercise, as they have now become dedicated to the dopamine rush.
Chronic exercise can also lead to changes in the structure and function of the brain, particularly in areas associated with motivation and impulse control.
This can make it difficult for individuals to stop exercising even when it is causing negative consequences such as fatigue, injury, or social isolation.
Additionally, changes in brain structure and function can impact other areas of mental health, such as mood regulation and cognitive function.
Finally, exercise addiction can impact sleep. Regular exercise is generally associated with better sleep quality, but excessive exercise or exercise addiction can lead to disrupted sleep patterns.
What is the Personality of an Exercise Addict?
There is no specific personality type that is more prone to exercise addiction. However, some studies have suggested that individuals with certain personality traits may be more susceptible to developing the condition.
For example, individuals with an obsessive or compulsive personality may be more likely to develop exercise addiction, as they may become fixated on achieving specific fitness goals or routines.
Similarly, people with a perfectionistic personality may be more prone to exercise addiction, as they may feel constant pressure to maintain an ideal body shape or level of fitness.
Lastly, those with a history of anxiety or depression may be more likely to develop exercise addiction as a way to cope with these conditions.
Is Exercise Addiction a Mental Health Issue?
Yes, exercise addiction is generally considered a mental health issue. It is classified as a behavioral addiction, which is a type of addiction that is characterized by compulsive engagement in a specific behavior despite adverse consequences.
In the case of exercise addiction, individuals engage in compulsive exercise behavior, often to the point where it negatively impacts their daily functioning.
What Mental Illnesses Go Hand in Hand With Exercise Addiction?
There is no one specific mental illness that always goes hand in hand with an exercise addiction. However, certain mental health conditions may increase an individual’s risk of developing an exercise addiction, or it may occur simultaneously.
One mental health illness that is commonly associated with exercise addiction is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder characterized by excessive worry regarding supposed defects or flaws related to someone’s appearance.
Individuals with BDD may engage in excessive exercise as a way to control their weight or improve their physical appearance, which can lead to the development of exercise addiction.
Anxiety and depression are other mental health conditions that can occur in someone with an exercise addiction. While exercise can be a helpful way to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, excessive exercise can actually exacerbate these conditions.
Additionally, individuals with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, may be at increased risk of developing exercise addiction.
That’s because excessive exercise is often used to control weight or compensate for food intake in individuals with eating disorders.
How Do I Stop My Exercise Addiction?
If you suspect you may be struggling with an exercise addiction, the first step is to seek assistance. A mental health professional, such as a therapist or counselor, can work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses the underlying issues contributing to your exercise addiction.
Here are some strategies that may help manage the condition:
If you are engaging in exercise to the point where it affects your physical and mental health negatively, taking a break from training may be necessary. That can help you re-establish a healthier relationship with exercise and prevent further damage to your body.
Also, it’s vital to set realistic goals for yourself regarding training. You don’t want to bite off more than you can chew and end up chasing after unattainable goals.
Lastly, joining a support group, such as Overeaters Anonymous or Eating Disorders Anonymous, can provide you with a community of individuals who are struggling with similar issues and can offer support and guidance.
Can Exercise Addiction Ever Be Cured?
There is no definitive cure for exercise addiction, as it is a complex and multifaceted condition that various factors can influence. However, with proper treatment and support, it is possible for someone to overcome exercise addiction and establish a healthier lifestyle.
Recovery from exercise addiction is often a lifelong process, and relapse can occur. Therefore, ongoing support and monitoring may be necessary to maintain physical and mental health during the stages of change in addiction.
What is the Most Common Treatment for Exercise Addiction?
With a combination of therapy, lifestyle modifications, and ongoing support, individuals can learn to recognize the signs of exercise addiction and manage their compulsive exercise behavior in a way that promotes physical and mental health and improves their overall quality of life. In general, behavioral therapy is the most common approach.
What Can I Replace Exercise With?
Practice self-care: Engaging in self-care activities, such as meditation, relaxation techniques, and spending time with loved ones, can help you manage stress and reduce the need to engage in excessive exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the responses to the most commonly asked questions regarding exercise addiction:
Is Exercise Addiction a Mental Disorder?
While exercise addiction is not recognized as a formal mental disorder in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), it is considered a behavioral addiction that can have detrimental effects on physical and mental well-being.
What is Too Much Exercise?
Too much exercise can be defined as any level of physical activity that leads to negative outcomes, such as injury, exhaustion, or social isolation. It’s critical to listen to your body and ensure that you perform exercise safely and sustainably.
Additional Addictions to Be Aware Of
Here are a few different addictions to be aware of in case you or someone you know it’s battling these conditions:
- Caffeine Addiction: Caffeine addiction is a physical and psychological dependence on caffeine, a stimulant found in many popular beverages such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks.
- Drug Addiction: This common form of addiction is chronic and often relapsing, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.
- Social Media Addiction: A social media addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive use of social media platforms, leading to depression, anxiety, and more.
Wrapping Up
Exercise addiction is a real and serious condition that causes compulsive and excessive exercise, often in the absence of enjoyment or any real benefits to physical health.
Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, addiction therapy in a support group, medication, and lifestyle changes to establish healthier patterns of exercise and coping. While it’s challenging to overcome, as with any physical or mental dependence, it’s possible with the right treatment plan.
If you are struggling with exercise addiction or are interested in learning how to help someone with an addiction, please seek professional assistance.
