3 Exercise Addiction (EA)
Learning Objectives
- Identify and describe exercise/sports, work addiction and behavioral addiction and corresponding symptoms.
- Utilize and research SAMHSA Guidelines for identification and treatment of behavioral addictions.
- Utilize DSM – 5 TR for diagnosis and research of criterion to treat behavioral addictions.
overview of exercise addiction
Exercise addiction (EA) is an addictive behavior that is characterized by excessive and vigorous training, loss of control over exercise regimine, and negative life consequences that could be physical, psychological or social, or a combination of the three (Juwono & Szabo, 2021; Szabo & Demetrovics, 2022). The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) refers to addiction as a chronic disease that involves brain circuits, genes, environmental influences, and your own life experiences. But research about the neurological and genetic basis of compulsive exercising is limited, so defining it as an addiction is challenging. Researchers conclude that anything that changes the dopamine or the brains reward center, can become addictive, yes, even exercise. Research interest in EA is exponentially growing. Most growth occurred within the past 12 years, EA is still not recognized as a distinct category of psychiatric in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association. The lack of inclusion is due to insufficient evidence for consistent onset or symptomology manifestations (Szabo & Demetrovics, 2022). The figure below shows the exponentially rapid increase in research and publications concerning exercise addiction over the last twelve years (According to the National Library of Medicine)
Figure 1. Exercise addiction abstracts PUBMED
Symptoms of exercise addiction
While there is currently a lack of formal diagnostic criteria, it may be challenging to define exercise addiction or list specific symptoms.
Based on the DSM-5 TR and other criterion to assess behavioral addictions, like gambling, symptoms of exercise addiction may look like:
- persistent and intense exercising habits that lead to impairment or distress
- unsuccessful attempts to reduce the intensity or frequency of exercising
- irritability or other mood changes when not able to work out
- recurrent preoccupation (persistent thoughts) related to working out
- tendency to lean on exercise to manage stress and other emotional states
- relationships, school, work, or self-care are often in jeopardy because of exercise-related habits
- inability or difficulty reducing or stopping exercise despite negative experiences or consequences like sports injury or muscular pain
- hiding frequency or intensity of exercise habits or events from others
Critical Thinking and additional Information
For more information:
- Read the following article published by Columbia University Psychiatry Department:https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/when-exercise-becomes-too-much-good-thing
Think about the following and write down your answers:
- When is exercise considered too much? How would you know it is detrimental?
- Can exercise become addictive? What are signs and symptoms that exercise has become addictive?
- What would make it addictive? Hint: Think about behavioral addiction and what is happening in the brains reward system.
additional video resources
References
Juwono, I.D., Szabo, A. 100 Cases of Exercise Addiction: More Evidence for a Widely Researched but Rarely Identified Dysfunction. Int J Ment Health Addiction 19, 1799–1811 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00264-6
Szabo, A., & Demetrovics, Z. (2022). Passion and Addiction in Sports and Exercise (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003173595
