Exercise Addiction Is More Harmful Than We Think—Here Are the Risks

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Considered Exercise Addiction?The Confusion and Controversy About Exercise AddictionHealthy Fitness vs. Exercise Addiction

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Considered Exercise Addiction?

The Confusion and Controversy About Exercise Addiction

Healthy Fitness vs. Exercise Addiction

While it may not necessarily sound like a bad thing to everyone, exercise addiction can lead to real challenges, so you may wonder, what are the harms of exercise addiction? After all, numerous studies have demonstrated the physical andemotional health benefits of regular exercise—it is essential to our well-being.

Unlike many otheraddictive behaviors, we are encouraged to exercise more. However, there is such a thing as exercise addiction—and it can have negative consequences.

At a GlanceExercise addiction is an unhealthy obsession with physical fitness and is currently classified under “behavioral addiction” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). It can cause more harm than good to your physical and mental health, and may cause injuries, physical damage from fatigue and inadequate rest, potential malnutrition, as well as anxiety, frustration, and emotional discomfort if there is a barrier to exercise. If you or someone you know might have an exercise addiction, a mental health professional can help you address your feelings and provide treatment options.

At a Glance

Exercise addiction is an unhealthy obsession with physical fitness and is currently classified under “behavioral addiction” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). It can cause more harm than good to your physical and mental health, and may cause injuries, physical damage from fatigue and inadequate rest, potential malnutrition, as well as anxiety, frustration, and emotional discomfort if there is a barrier to exercise. If you or someone you know might have an exercise addiction, a mental health professional can help you address your feelings and provide treatment options.

Several characteristics distinguish healthy regular exercise from exercise addiction. According to research, exercise addiction is identified based on the following (modified from the DSM’s criteria for substance dependence):

To put it simply, exercise addiction ismaladaptive, so instead of improving a person’s life, it causes more problems. Exercise addiction can threaten health, causing injuries, physical damage due to inadequate rest, and, in some instances (particularly when co-occurring with an eating disorder), malnutrition and other problems.

Secondly, it is persistent, so an exercise addict exercises too much and for too long without giving the body a chance to recover. We all overexert ourselves on occasion and usually rest afterward. But people with exercise addiction exercise for hours every day, regardless of fatigue or illness. As the individual’s principal way of coping with stress, they experience anxiety, frustration, or emotional discomfort if they are unable to do so.

Exercise addiction is probably the most contradictory of all addictions. As well as being a widely promoted health behavior, important for preventing and treating a range of ailments, exercise can be an effective part of treatment for other mental health problems.

Like other behavioral addictions, exercise addiction is a controversial idea. Many experts balk at the idea that excessive exercise can constitute an addiction, believing that there has to be a psychoactive substance that produces symptoms—such as withdrawal—for an activity to be a true addiction.

Although considerable research shows that exercise releases endorphins (opioids produced within the body) and excessive exercise causes tolerance to the hormones andneurotransmittersreleased,these physiological processes are often not considered comparable to other substance addictions.

Exercise addiction is currently classified under “behavioral addiction” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the gold standard for the diagnosis of mental disorders. It is also considered a “compensatory behavior” used to prevent weight gain, along with self-induced vomiting, and misuse of laxatives, among individuals with the eating disorderbulimia nervosa.

A recent study, published in the journalEating and Weight Disorders — Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, found that rates of exercise addiction are nearly four times greater in adults displaying signs of an eating disorder.

How Is Exercise Addiction Like Other Addictions?

There are several similarities between exercise addiction and drug addiction, including effects on mood, tolerance, and withdrawal.

Neurotransmitters and the brain’s reward system have been implicated in exercise and other addictions. For example, dopamine has been found to play an important role in overall reward systems, and regular, excessive exercise has been shown to influence parts of the brain involving dopamine.

Only 8% of gym users meet the criteria for exercise addiction.In the classic pattern of addiction, exercise addicts increase their amount of exercise to re-experience feelings of escapism or the natural high they had previously experienced with shorter periods of exercise. They report withdrawal symptoms when they are unable to exercise, and tend to go back to high levels of exercise after a period of abstinence or control. Three percent of gym users feel they cannot stop exercising.

While many reasons for exercising are shared among exercisers whether or not they are addicted — health, fitness, weight management, body image, and stress relief—exercisers who are not addicted cite other reasons that exercise addictsdo notshare, such as social enjoyment, relaxation, and time alone.

People at risk for exercise addiction have difficulties in other areas in their lives that drive them to exercise to dangerous levels. They feel strongly that exercise is the most important thing in their life, and they use exercise as a way to express emotions including anger, anxiety, and grief, and to deal with work and relationship stress. Some know that their excessive exercise has caused conflicts with their family members.

A central function of exercise addiction is the sense of control—over mood, the body, the environment—that exercise provides. It also provides a sense of structure.Ironically, as with other addictions, the attempt to exert control eventually leads to a loss of control over the ability to balance the activity with other priorities in life. People who are addicted to exercise tend to miss out on family, social, and work events or tend to neglect work, school, or personal responsibilities because of the need to exercise.

Exercise Is Great for Mental Health, But How Much Is Too Much?

What This Means For YouExercise is a great way to manage stress and to address negative feelings. If your need for exercise is greater than your ability to manage your relationships and feelings, you may need more help to overcome your addiction and find healthier ways of coping. Speak with your healthcare provider about the best way to treat your addiction.

What This Means For You

Exercise is a great way to manage stress and to address negative feelings. If your need for exercise is greater than your ability to manage your relationships and feelings, you may need more help to overcome your addiction and find healthier ways of coping. Speak with your healthcare provider about the best way to treat your addiction.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

14 SourcesVerywell Mind 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.Reiner M, Niermann C, Jekauc D, Woll A.Long-term health benefits of physical activity–a systematic review of longitudinal studies.BMC Public Health. 2013;13:813. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-813Downs DS, Hausenblas HA, Nigg CR.Factorial validity and psychometric examination of the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised.Meas. Phys. Educ. Exerc. Sci.2004;8:183–201.Hausenblas HA, Downs DS.How much is too much? The development and validation of the Exercise Addiction scale.Psychology and Health.2002;17:387–404.Aidman EV, Woollard S.The influence of self-reported exercise addiction on acute emotional and physiological responses to brief exercise deprivation.Psychol. Sport Exerc.2003;4:225–236.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/ijerph8104069Berczik K, Szabó A, Griffiths MD, et al.Exercise addiction: symptoms, diagnosis, epidemiology, and etiology.Subst Use Misuse. 2012;47(4):403–417. doi:10.3109/10826084.2011.639120Harvard Health Publishing.Can exercise help conquer addiction?.Carek PJ, Laibstain SE, Carek SM.Exercise for the treatment of depression and anxiety.Int J Psychiatry Med. 2011;41(1):15–28. doi:10.2190/PM.41.1.cSaanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari JJ, et al.Opioid Release after High-Intensity Interval Training in Healthy Human Subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(2):246–254. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.148Trott M, Jackson SE, Firth J, et al.A comparative meta-analysis of the prevalence of exercise addiction in adults with and without indicated eating disorders.Eat Weight Disord. 2020. doi:10.1007/s40519-019-00842-1Arias-Carrión O, Stamelou M, Murillo-Rodríguez E, Menéndez-González M, Pöppel E.Dopaminergic reward system: a short integrative review.Int Arch Med. 2010;3:24. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-3-24Alcaraz-Ibáñez M, Aguilar-Parra JM, Álvarez-Hernández JF.Exercise addiction: Preliminary evidence on the role of psychological inflexibility.Int J Ment Health Addict. 2018;16:199–206. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9875-yLichtenstein MB, Griffiths MD, Hemmingsen SD, Støving RK.Exercise addiction in adolescents and emerging adults - Validation of a youth version of the Exercise Addiction Inventory.J Behav Addict. 2018;7(1):117–125. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.01Cook RH, Griffiths MD, Pontes HM.Personality factors in exercise addiction: A pilot study exploring the role of narcissism, extraversion, and agreeableness.Int J Ment Health Addict.2020;18:89–102. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9939-z

14 Sources

Verywell Mind 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.Reiner M, Niermann C, Jekauc D, Woll A.Long-term health benefits of physical activity–a systematic review of longitudinal studies.BMC Public Health. 2013;13:813. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-813Downs DS, Hausenblas HA, Nigg CR.Factorial validity and psychometric examination of the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised.Meas. Phys. Educ. Exerc. Sci.2004;8:183–201.Hausenblas HA, Downs DS.How much is too much? The development and validation of the Exercise Addiction scale.Psychology and Health.2002;17:387–404.Aidman EV, Woollard S.The influence of self-reported exercise addiction on acute emotional and physiological responses to brief exercise deprivation.Psychol. Sport Exerc.2003;4:225–236.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/ijerph8104069Berczik K, Szabó A, Griffiths MD, et al.Exercise addiction: symptoms, diagnosis, epidemiology, and etiology.Subst Use Misuse. 2012;47(4):403–417. doi:10.3109/10826084.2011.639120Harvard Health Publishing.Can exercise help conquer addiction?.Carek PJ, Laibstain SE, Carek SM.Exercise for the treatment of depression and anxiety.Int J Psychiatry Med. 2011;41(1):15–28. doi:10.2190/PM.41.1.cSaanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari JJ, et al.Opioid Release after High-Intensity Interval Training in Healthy Human Subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(2):246–254. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.148Trott M, Jackson SE, Firth J, et al.A comparative meta-analysis of the prevalence of exercise addiction in adults with and without indicated eating disorders.Eat Weight Disord. 2020. doi:10.1007/s40519-019-00842-1Arias-Carrión O, Stamelou M, Murillo-Rodríguez E, Menéndez-González M, Pöppel E.Dopaminergic reward system: a short integrative review.Int Arch Med. 2010;3:24. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-3-24Alcaraz-Ibáñez M, Aguilar-Parra JM, Álvarez-Hernández JF.Exercise addiction: Preliminary evidence on the role of psychological inflexibility.Int J Ment Health Addict. 2018;16:199–206. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9875-yLichtenstein MB, Griffiths MD, Hemmingsen SD, Støving RK.Exercise addiction in adolescents and emerging adults - Validation of a youth version of the Exercise Addiction Inventory.J Behav Addict. 2018;7(1):117–125. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.01Cook RH, Griffiths MD, Pontes HM.Personality factors in exercise addiction: A pilot study exploring the role of narcissism, extraversion, and agreeableness.Int J Ment Health Addict.2020;18:89–102. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9939-z

Verywell Mind 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.

Reiner M, Niermann C, Jekauc D, Woll A.Long-term health benefits of physical activity–a systematic review of longitudinal studies.BMC Public Health. 2013;13:813. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-813Downs DS, Hausenblas HA, Nigg CR.Factorial validity and psychometric examination of the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised.Meas. Phys. Educ. Exerc. Sci.2004;8:183–201.Hausenblas HA, Downs DS.How much is too much? The development and validation of the Exercise Addiction scale.Psychology and Health.2002;17:387–404.Aidman EV, Woollard S.The influence of self-reported exercise addiction on acute emotional and physiological responses to brief exercise deprivation.Psychol. Sport Exerc.2003;4:225–236.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/ijerph8104069Berczik K, Szabó A, Griffiths MD, et al.Exercise addiction: symptoms, diagnosis, epidemiology, and etiology.Subst Use Misuse. 2012;47(4):403–417. doi:10.3109/10826084.2011.639120Harvard Health Publishing.Can exercise help conquer addiction?.Carek PJ, Laibstain SE, Carek SM.Exercise for the treatment of depression and anxiety.Int J Psychiatry Med. 2011;41(1):15–28. doi:10.2190/PM.41.1.cSaanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari JJ, et al.Opioid Release after High-Intensity Interval Training in Healthy Human Subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(2):246–254. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.148Trott M, Jackson SE, Firth J, et al.A comparative meta-analysis of the prevalence of exercise addiction in adults with and without indicated eating disorders.Eat Weight Disord. 2020. doi:10.1007/s40519-019-00842-1Arias-Carrión O, Stamelou M, Murillo-Rodríguez E, Menéndez-González M, Pöppel E.Dopaminergic reward system: a short integrative review.Int Arch Med. 2010;3:24. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-3-24Alcaraz-Ibáñez M, Aguilar-Parra JM, Álvarez-Hernández JF.Exercise addiction: Preliminary evidence on the role of psychological inflexibility.Int J Ment Health Addict. 2018;16:199–206. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9875-yLichtenstein MB, Griffiths MD, Hemmingsen SD, Støving RK.Exercise addiction in adolescents and emerging adults - Validation of a youth version of the Exercise Addiction Inventory.J Behav Addict. 2018;7(1):117–125. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.01Cook RH, Griffiths MD, Pontes HM.Personality factors in exercise addiction: A pilot study exploring the role of narcissism, extraversion, and agreeableness.Int J Ment Health Addict.2020;18:89–102. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9939-z

Reiner M, Niermann C, Jekauc D, Woll A.Long-term health benefits of physical activity–a systematic review of longitudinal studies.BMC Public Health. 2013;13:813. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-813

Downs DS, Hausenblas HA, Nigg CR.Factorial validity and psychometric examination of the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised.Meas. Phys. Educ. Exerc. Sci.2004;8:183–201.

Hausenblas HA, Downs DS.How much is too much? The development and validation of the Exercise Addiction scale.Psychology and Health.2002;17:387–404.

Aidman EV, Woollard S.The influence of self-reported exercise addiction on acute emotional and physiological responses to brief exercise deprivation.Psychol. Sport Exerc.2003;4:225–236.

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

Berczik K, Szabó A, Griffiths MD, et al.Exercise addiction: symptoms, diagnosis, epidemiology, and etiology.Subst Use Misuse. 2012;47(4):403–417. doi:10.3109/10826084.2011.639120

Harvard Health Publishing.Can exercise help conquer addiction?.

Carek PJ, Laibstain SE, Carek SM.Exercise for the treatment of depression and anxiety.Int J Psychiatry Med. 2011;41(1):15–28. doi:10.2190/PM.41.1.c

Saanijoki T, Tuominen L, Tuulari JJ, et al.Opioid Release after High-Intensity Interval Training in Healthy Human Subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(2):246–254. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.148

Trott M, Jackson SE, Firth J, et al.A comparative meta-analysis of the prevalence of exercise addiction in adults with and without indicated eating disorders.Eat Weight Disord. 2020. doi:10.1007/s40519-019-00842-1

Arias-Carrión O, Stamelou M, Murillo-Rodríguez E, Menéndez-González M, Pöppel E.Dopaminergic reward system: a short integrative review.Int Arch Med. 2010;3:24. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-3-24

Alcaraz-Ibáñez M, Aguilar-Parra JM, Álvarez-Hernández JF.Exercise addiction: Preliminary evidence on the role of psychological inflexibility.Int J Ment Health Addict. 2018;16:199–206. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9875-y

Lichtenstein MB, Griffiths MD, Hemmingsen SD, Støving RK.Exercise addiction in adolescents and emerging adults - Validation of a youth version of the Exercise Addiction Inventory.J Behav Addict. 2018;7(1):117–125. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.01

Cook RH, Griffiths MD, Pontes HM.Personality factors in exercise addiction: A pilot study exploring the role of narcissism, extraversion, and agreeableness.Int J Ment Health Addict.2020;18:89–102. doi:10.1007/s11469-018-9939-z

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