It occurs in a reported 3-9% worldwide (Journal of Behavioral Addictions).

More of us have picked up exercise in this lockdown era. Everybody knows exercise is good for you, so more is better? Exercise is tied to good health improved brainpower (cognitive function). Like everything else there’s a dark side – too much of any one thing is BAD!
Many gyms and fitness centers perhaps inadvertently encourage such behavior. The crazy of at-home fitness machines and virtual classes to join. But remember many units have cameras and microphones, hence President Biden might not be able to use one living in the White House.

Like any addiction exercise addiction, entails excessive and obsessive patterns. Dependence raises and can be recognized by 6 characteristics according to an Addiction Behavior Reports article. The same features of any type of dependence as you can see as you read on. The list includes: Salience (a most important aspect of one’s life); Conflicts; mood modification (exercise improves mood by increases endorphins), food to exercise to improve mood; tolerance -an increasing level is needed to satisfy physiological effect; withdrawal symptoms – irritability arises if reduced ceased; relapse -need to get back as soon as possible to achieve ‘high’.

Recognize these characteristics? Eating disorders, self-worth imagining, and OCD may contribute. Sadly drug use may creep into the mix for many individuals.

Treatment is not one size fits all, especially since exercise is good for you. Recognition you are addicted or heading that way is the first step to your getting help from a realistic trainer or therapist. This applies to children as well although with current isolation after school sports are down.