Compulsive Exercise

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What Is Compulsive Exercise?

Compulsive exercise (sometimes called exercise addiction) happens when a person is driven to exercise too much. Injury, illness, going out with friends, or bad weather will not stop those who compulsively exercise.

Why Do Some Teens Exercise Too Much?

Regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. But athletes may be driven to exercise more and more to improve their sports performance. Personal goals, coaches, teammates, or parents may pressure athletes to push themselves too far.

Compulsive exercising and eating disorders often go hand in hand. Someone with an eating disorder also may work out excessively to lose weight. Someone with bulimia may use exercise as a way to compensate for binge eating.

Some people believe they can achieve an impossible ideal body type if they keep exercising.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Compulsive Exercise?

Compulsive exercisers often:

won't skip a workout, even if tired, sick, or injured
can't take time off and seem anxious or guilty when missing even one workout
are constantly preoccupied with their weight and exercise routine
lose a significant amount of weight
exercise more after eating a lot or missing a workout
eat much less if they can't exercise
skip seeing friends, give up other activities, and abandon responsibilities to make more time for exercise
seem to base their self-worth on the number of workouts completed and the effort put into training
are never satisfied with their own physical achievements
have irregular periods or stress fractures

What Problems Can Compulsive Exercise Cause?

Compulsive exercise can lead to:

Injuries, including overuse injuries and stress fractures.
Some girls will lose a lot of weight, have irregular periods or no periods (a condition known as amenorrhea amenorrhea ), and lose bone density (osteoporosis). This is known as the female athlete triad.
Unhealthy weight loss behaviors, such as skipping meals or drastically reducing calories, vomiting, and using diet pills or laxatives.
Social isolation, because working out always comes first. Compulsive exercisers may skip homework or time with friends and family to exercise.
Anxiety and depression. Performance pressure, low self-esteem, and lack of other interests contribute to emotional problems.

How Is Compulsive Exercise Diagnosed?

It can be hard to diagnosis compulsive exercise. There is no agreement on how much exercise is too much. A person who continues to exercise in spite of injury, health problems, or poor relationships may have an exercise addiction.

How Is Compulsive Exercise Treated?

A therapist can help someone with an exercise addiction change unhealthy behaviors, work on exercise moderation, and find coping strategies.

Treatment will focus on:

treating injuries
resting or reducing exercise
alternative exercise plans
nutrition counseling
keeping a healthy weight
treating conditions, such as eating disorders, depression, or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

What Can I Do?

It is important for compulsive exercisers to get professional help. But there are some things you can do to take care of yourself:

Help prepare and eat nutritious meals.
Have fun exercising by being active together with friends or family.
Take a day off to rest between hard workouts.
Try to find new ways to ease stress and cope with your problems.

If you think that you're exercising too much, talk to your doctor.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

Date reviewed: July 2018