Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Over 1000 articles exist on exercise addiction (EA), defined as uncontrolled training detrimental to individuals.
• Despite extensive research, EA lacks formal clinical diagnostic criteria, hindering its classification as a distinct psychiatric disorder.
• Existing research faces conceptual and methodological challenges, including scalar measurement and failure to distinguish between addictive and instrumental exercise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a narrative overview of exercise addiction (EA) research over the past 12 years.
• To identify and expose critical conceptual and methodological issues within the field of EA.
• To highlight areas requiring further investigation for advancing knowledge on EA.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of over 1000 articles on exercise addiction published in the last 12 years.
• Analysis of conceptual frameworks and measurement methodologies employed in EA research.
• Exploration of the relationship between EA, behavioral addictions, and co-occurring morbidities like eating and body-image disorders.

Main Results:

• Significant progress in advancing knowledge on EA is limited due to conceptual and methodological issues.
• Scalar measurement and lack of differentiation between addictive and instrumental exercise are identified as key limitations.
• Excessive exercise patterns often co-occur with other disorders, necessitating the distinction between primary and secondary EA.

Conclusions:

• Primary EA is fueled by stress and ambition, while secondary EA is linked to body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders.
• Limited research on EA's brain mechanisms impedes its classification as a distinct psychiatric dysfunction.
• Future research should integrate psychophysiological studies and in-depth interviews to address critical open questions in EA research.