• Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • DMCA
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
TheGreatNews.com
  • Home
  • MINDSET
  • WELL BEING
  • POSITIVE NEWS
  • WISDOM
  • PURPOSE
  • NEW TECHNOLOGIES
  • More Topics
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • GREEN ENERGIES
    • SUCCESS
    • GOOD LIFE
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • MINDSET
  • WELL BEING
  • POSITIVE NEWS
  • WISDOM
  • PURPOSE
  • NEW TECHNOLOGIES
  • More Topics
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • GREEN ENERGIES
    • SUCCESS
    • GOOD LIFE
No Result
View All Result
TheGreatNews.com
No Result
View All Result

Are You at Risk of Exercise Addiction?

in PURPOSE
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
Are You at Risk of Exercise Addiction?
Share Share Share Share Share

Related articles

How to Rebuild Your Finances And Get back On Track?

What Is Quiet Quitting, TikTok’s New Viral Trend?

Getting the recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day has plenty of health benefits, from decreased health risks to improved mood and more. But as the old adage goes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing – and exercise is no exception.

In fact, it’s possible to become addicted to exercise. Exercise addiction happens when a person develops a compulsion toward exercise. If you think that you or a loved one may be addicted to exercise, this article will outline everything you need to know about exercise addiction. Read on to learn what exercise addiction is, the signs and symptoms of exercise addiction, who is at risk for exercise addiction and when to seek help.

What Is Exercise Addiction, and What Causes It?

woman holding weight during workout
(Photo by Meagan Stone on Unsplash)

Exercise addiction occurs when a person’s relationship with physical exercise becomes obsessive. Similar to other addictions, behaviors associated with exercise addiction include obsessing over working out, working out in secret, working out to the point of causing physical and mental harm, as well as continuing to engage in the behavior even though they wish to stop doing so. 

RELATED: What Is Groupthink? How To Avoid This Common Bias

Exercise activates the same neurotransmitters in our brains that get activated during drug use. Because exercise releases endorphins and dopamine, it’s possible to get addicted to the “high” we feel after exercising. A person would continue to pursue this feeling by exercising excessively. 

Who Is at Risk for Exercise Addiction? 

feet on concrete steps
(Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash)

Though it’s possible for anyone to develop an addiction to exercise, certain risk factors have been identified that increase the chance of exercise addiction.

Desire to lose weight and concern regarding appearance. Those who want to dramatically change their appearance through extreme weight loss and who feel obligated to stay in shape due to societal pressure may be at higher risk for weight loss addiction.

Eating and body disorders. Those who suffer from eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia can make a person more susceptible to exercise addiction. Body dysmorphic disorder or body image disorder can also cause a person to become obsessive about workout out. 

RELATED: Open-Mindedness: 5 Practical Steps To Open Your Mind

History of addiction. It’s estimated that 15% of people with exercise addiction have been or are addicted to cigarettes, drugs or alcohol. In some cases, those who suffer from other addictions may turn to exercise as a way to fill a void left by the absence of addictive substances. This can end up being counterproductive, as they form an addiction to exercise instead. 

Difficulty in other areas of life. Those seeking an escape from certain life stressors or looking to fill a void in parts of their lives are more susceptible to exercise addiction. Because exercise feels good and requires complete focus, it’s an addictive escape for some. 

Lack of control. If a person lacks agency in other areas of their lives, they may view their physical form as something they can control. This can easily lead to becoming fixated on their physique, which can develop into exercise addiction. 

Exercise Addiction vs. Healthy Exercise

man runs on concrete beside the water
(Photo by Chander R on Unsplash)

The line between healthy exercise and exercise addiction can be hard to spot. Particularly for those who enjoy training for marathons or weightlifting, identifying the difference between spending time engaging in a fun physical activity and addiction can be a challenge. Here are a few characteristics of exercise addiction to keep an eye out for.

Missing a workout negatively impacts their mental state. A person who suffers from exercise addiction may get extremely upset in the event they’re unable to complete a scheduled workout – even if the reason they have to miss it is an important one, such as a work trip or wedding celebration.

Working out is their only source of happiness. People addicted to exercise are often unable to derive happiness from any other area of their lives. Their only source of joy comes from the physical results they’re seeing from working out or from their latest workout stats. 

RELATED: What Is the Google Effect, How Does It Hurt Your Mind – And What Can You Do About It?

Exercise negatively impacts relationships. Exercise addiction causes a person to prioritize working out over all else, including the people in their lives. People with exercise addiction often suffer from strained relationships. They will choose to work out over spending time with their partner or skip out on social events to stick to their workout regimen. 

They work out despite illness or injuries. Those with exercise addiction will ignore their body’s cues for rest to continue pursuing their physical goals. This can mean working out despite having the flu, fractures or other ailments. 

Exercise is used to escape. Exercise becomes a way to escape rather than deal with particular life stressors or events that may be unpleasant to work through. 

Workouts often get extended. Working toward a particular goal like training for a marathon can call for multiple workouts per day. However, those with exercise addiction may extend and add to workouts without any objectives in mind and can act on impulse – adding additional reps or miles in. 

How Is Exercise Addiction Diagnosed and Treated?

workout class led by blonde woman
(Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash)

Because exercise addiction isn’t currently recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), there’s no specific criteria used to diagnose it. Additionally, those who suffer from exercise addiction usually deny there’s an issue and often don’t seek help professional help. 

If a person with exercise addiction does seek help, a doctor may ask questions regarding the frequency of workouts and questions about how the fitness routine impacts other areas, such as social activity. Keeping a journal of workouts may also help a physician diagnose exercise addiction.

Treating exercise addiction heavily relies on the person’s willingness to admit the issue and want to take steps toward changing the behavior. To gradually shift exercising to be a healthy behavior and not a harmful one, a person with exercise addiction may start to moderate workouts and move to different forms of exercise that are less strenuous. Moderating the time spent working out to a healthy amount rather than an obsessive one is another step those with exercise addiction may take. 

Summary

Exercise addiction occurs when a person becomes obsessed with physical activity – to the point where it negatively impacts other areas of their lives. If you or a loved one starts to exercise obsessively, to the point where it’s negatively affecting their health and social well-being, it may be time to make necessary changes. Slowly cutting back on workout duration, switching up workouts to incorporate less strenuous activity and spending time on other areas of life such as social activity, can all help a person cope with and work through exercise addiction.

KEEP READING:

Train Your Brain to Shed Distracting Habits and Concentrate Better

Credit: Source link

ShareTweetSendPinShare
Previous Post

Looks like Google’s cheaper Chromecast is becoming a reality

Next Post

Microsoft HoloLens boss Alex Kipman is out after misconduct allegations

Related Posts

How to Rebuild Your Finances And Get back On Track?

How to Rebuild Your Finances And Get back On Track?

January 18, 2023

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your debt and financial struggles, there are steps you can take to get back on track. One important step is to...

What Is Quiet Quitting, TikTok’s New Viral Trend?

What Is Quiet Quitting, TikTok’s New Viral Trend?

August 30, 2022

After years of scrolling Pinterest boards encouraging us to “rise and grind,” and listening to podcasts on how to boost productivity, hustle culture may have finally...

Inspirational Ariana Grande Quotes About Life, Love and Success

Inspirational Ariana Grande Quotes About Life, Love and Success

August 30, 2022

Ariana Grande has proven she’s wise beyond her years. The pop star has been been called “the feminist hero we need” and has repeatedly been dubbed...

Student Council Invites Lonely 16-Year-Old to Eat Lunch With Them

Student Council Invites Lonely 16-Year-Old to Eat Lunch With Them

August 30, 2022

One young man’s mother publicly thanked her son’s classmates when he came home from his first day of school with a huge smile on his face...

Alison Brie’s ‘Heartbreaking’ Response to GLOW Cancellation

Alison Brie’s ‘Heartbreaking’ Response to GLOW Cancellation

August 30, 2022

While recently promoting one of her latest projects, the film comedy Spin Me Round, Alison Brie came clean about her feelings regarding the end of her...

Next Post
Microsoft HoloLens boss Alex Kipman is out after misconduct allegations

Microsoft HoloLens boss Alex Kipman is out after misconduct allegations

TikTok Addiction Is Real – Here Are the Signs

TikTok Addiction Is Real – Here Are the Signs

3 Software Plays Showing Signs of Recovery

3 Software Plays Showing Signs of Recovery

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Weekly Updates

Best Side Hustles in Real Estate to Earn Profits 

Best Side Hustles in Real Estate to Earn Profits 

January 30, 2023
TheGreatNews.com

This is an online news portal that aims to provide the latest updates about mindset, well being, positive news, wisdom, purpose, new technologies, entrepreneur, green energy, success, good life and stuff like that around the world. Feel free to get in touch with us!

© 2021 - TheGreatNews.com - All rights reserved!

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • DMCA
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • MINDSET
  • WELL BEING
  • POSITIVE NEWS
  • WISDOM
  • PURPOSE
  • NEW TECHNOLOGIES
  • More Topics
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • GREEN ENERGIES
    • SUCCESS
    • GOOD LIFE

© 2021 - TheGreatNews.com - All rights reserved!