Exercise Addiction/Overactivity Disorders

Exercise addiction or overactivity disorders can be diagnosed in patients who attempt to control [Page 446]their bodies and define their identity by overinvolvement in exercise activity. This overinvolvement often has addictive properties, thereby producing a rigid commitment to exercise routines, with symptoms of withdrawal when exercise is reduced or diminished. Experts estimate that at least 4% of Americans struggle with excessive exercise. While women are more often associated with eating disorders and a preoccupation with weight, it is men who are more likely ...