What Is Exercise Addiction?

 

 

What Distinguishes Exercising from Exercise Addiction?

Salience	The activity becomes the most important thing in a person’s life; daily activities  are planned around a rigid exercise regimen
Conflicts	Conflicts with friends/family due to the addiction.
Mood Modification	Exercise is used to alter mood as a coping strategy to regulate emotions
Tolerance	Increasing amounts of exercise are required to achieve the same rush of  endorphins
Withdrawal	Unpleasant feelings, even depression, occur when exercise is prevented or  reduced
Loss of Control	Unable to limit the time that is devoted to exercise; cannot properly perform  duties at home and/or work

 

Symptomology

Obsessive and compulsive symptoms

• Obsessions: there is a preoccupation with exercise when it is prevented or delayed. This creates heightened levels of anxiety, which are then decreased when the exercise is performed.
• Compulsions: relief after the exercise is performed is only temporary. The urge to exercise begins again as anxiety levels rise.

• Compulsive-impulsive spectrum: Exercise addiction falls between Body-Dysmorphic Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa

 

• Physiological repercussions:
  1. Decreased testosterone response
  2. Loss of emotional vigor
  3. Immunosuppression
  4. Decreased maximum oxygen uptake
  5. Decreased blood lactate
  6. Increased muscle wasting (due to cortisol response)

Co-morbidities: Two types of exercise addiction

Main distinction: Presence of an eating disorder

Primary Exercise Addiction	Addiction manifests itself as a behavioral addiction Reason to over-exercise: escape negative emotions due to persistent and uncontrollable stress Objective = exercise
Secondary Exercise Addiction	Addiction is co-morbid with an eating disorder, anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa Reason to over-exercise: to lose weight Objective = weight loss

 

Case Study: Sarah Hicks