Exercise addiction, or dependence, is a craving for leisure-time physical activity, resulting in uncontrollable excessive exercise behavior that manifests as physiological (e.g., tolerance) and/or psychological (e.g., withdrawal) symptoms (Hausenblas & Symons Downs, 2002). Primary exercise addiction is when the underlying motivation to exercise is based on the psychological gratification of the exercise itself. This is different from
excessive exercise present in eating disorder patients (also known as secondary exercise addiction), in which the exercise represents a means to control weight. In these eating disorders, excessive exercise is used for
caloric control and weight loss rather than for escape from a psychological hardship.
Exercise addiction symptoms include tolerance and withdrawal (e.g., mood disturbance, restlessness), lack of control, exercising despite injury or illness, and giving up social, occupational, and family obligations to exercise. In addition to these symptoms, exercise addiction is also characterized by a craving for exercise.
Exercise addicts are distinguished from other high volume exercisers, like elite athletes, whose intrinsic desire to exercise is under control and does not regularly result in emotional, social, or occupational disruptions.
The incidence of high risk for exercise addiction is 0.3% 0.5% in the general population, while among regular exercisers it ranges between 1.9% and 5.0% (Monok, Berczik, Urban, Szabo, & Griffiths, 2012; Symons Downs, Hausenblas, & Nigg, 2004).
A positive relationship exists with exercise addiction to other behavioral addictions, such as shopping, gambling, and internet use. People who strongly identify themselves as an exerciser are perfectionistic, and have low self-esteem are more at risk for exercise addiction. As well, individuals with higher neurotic and extraverted as opposed to agreeable personalities are more at-risk for exercise addiction. Men and women are equally at risk for exercise addiction, but symptoms often manifest among men as primary exercise addiction whereas in women, symptoms are likely secondary to an eating disorder.
Like most behavioral addictions, cognitive-behavioral therapy is often recommended to help manage the underlying mood, emotional, and cognitive symptoms of exercise addiction.
References
Hausenblas, H. A., & Symons Downs, D. (2002). Exercise
dependence: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and
Exercise, 3, 89 123.
Monok, K., Berczik, K., Urban, R., Szabo, A., Griffiths,
M. D., et al. (2012). Psychometric properties and concurrent
validity of two exercise addiction measures: A population
wide study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13, 387 404.
Symons Downs, D., Hausenblas, H. A., & Nigg, C. R. (2004).
Factorial validity and psychometric examination of the
Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised. Measurement in
Physical Education and Exercise Science, 8, 183 201.
***Contributed by Heather A. Hausenblas & Danielle S. Downs for Hackfort, D., Schinke, R. J., & Strauss, B. (Eds.). (2019). Dictionary of sport psychology: sport, exercise, and performing arts. Academic Press.
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