Exercise Junky?
Exercise helps you stay healthy and fit, but can
you exercise too much? Some experts think so and
say that exercising too much can turn into an
addiction. In fact, some researchers say
compulsive exercisers are addicted to
endorphins, the natural hormones released during
exercise that make you feel good. At this time,
the medical community doesn’t recognize
“exercise dependence” as a clinical disorder.
However, some researchers have proposed that it
be accepted as an independent disorder with the
following symptom:
Symptoms
A preoccupation with exercise that causes
significant problems physically, socially,
or at work.
Physical symptoms of withdrawal, like mood
swings, irritability, and sleeping problems,
if you don’t exercise.
A preoccupation with exercise that doesn’t
occur with another medical problem, like an
eating disorder.
Other experts are skeptical this condition
exists by itself. Some acknowledge that it could
happen as a symptom of another medical problem,
like an eating disorder. At this time, there is
no agreement on the nature of this problem, and
more research is needed.
