In a new study, researchers found planning daily life around fitness schedule is linked to higher risk of exercise addiction.
The finding may help develop new interventions to help people prevent this mental issue.
The research was conducted by international researchers from the UK, Italy, and Australia.
Exercise addiction is a compulsive engagement in any form of physical exercise, despite negative consequences such as pain and discomfort.
Although regular exercise is very beneficial to our mental and physical health, being obsessive about exercise can be harmful.
Performing excessive amounts of exercise may harm body functions, and spending too much time exercising may interfere with personal life and work.
Previous research has developed several different questionnaires and other tools to get an idea of its prevalence and who might be at risk.
They found several factors may contribute to exercise addiction, including attitudes towards exercise and self-perceptions.
In addition, many societies perpetuate the strive for a perfect appearance, and a fit body has become synonymous with success. This motivates people to be more obsessive about fitness.
In the current study, the team focused on the link between exercise addiction and other health issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, body dysmorphic disorder and overuse of fitness supplements.
Body dysmorphic disorder causes people to feel shame or disgust with part of their body or appearance
They surveyed more than 1700 people in fitness settings using the Exercise Addiction Inventory, Appearance Anxiety Inventory, and Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale as well as other questionnaires about supplement use.
The results showed that compulsive exercise is linked to high levels of anxiety and low levels of self-esteem.
Women with exercise addiction were more likely to experience body dysmorphic disorder and feel bad about their body appearance.
The team also found that about 40% of people with exercise addiction used fitness enhancing supplements without medical consultation.
Some supplements have been found could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The findings suggest that exercise addiction can bring health risks to people and may harm their mental health and physical health.
It is important to develop new strategies and guidelines to help people have a reasonable amount of exercise.
It is also important for doctors to identify people who have an exercise addiction to protect their health.
Future research needs to figure out if it is necessary to officially classify exercise addiction as a mental health disorder.
The study is published in PLOS ONE.
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