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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans

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Rationalising a spectrum of problematic exercise: A qualitative study.

Kate Nicholls¹, Jane Ogden¹

¹University of Surrey, UK.

Journal of Health Psychology

|September 13, 2024

Summary

Excessive exercise focus can lead to harmful behaviors, even when individuals rationalize choices. Problematic exercise exists on a continuum, not as a simple yes/no condition, impacting mental and physical health.

Keywords:

exercise addiction exercise motivation problematic exercise qualitative study

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Psychology
Exercise Science
Health Psychology

Background:

While exercise offers significant health benefits, an overemphasis on its advantages can paradoxically foster detrimental behaviors in certain individuals.
Problematic exercise is often viewed through a diagnostic lens, categorizing it as a behavioral addiction.
Existing research frequently dichotomizes exercise behavior, limiting a nuanced understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the lived experience and meaning of problematic exercise behavior from the perspective of frequent exercisers.
To understand the subjective interpretations and rationalizations underlying excessive exercise patterns.
To investigate the factors contributing to the continuation of exercise despite potential harm.

Main Methods:

A qualitative research design was employed.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nineteen frequent exercisers based in the UK.
Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns and themes in the participants' experiences.

Main Results:

Three primary themes emerged: 'relentlessly pushing the limits' (including personal bests and social comparison), 'an enabling community' (where social groups may inadvertently promote problematic exercise), and 'the complexity of the ideal body' (related to weight maintenance perceptions).
A pervasive theme of 'rationalising choices' transcended the others, indicating participants' tendency to justify their exercise habits.
Participants frequently perceived the benefits of exercise as outweighing the associated costs, even when experiencing negative consequences.

Conclusions:

Problematic exercise should be understood as existing on a continuum rather than being a dichotomous condition.
Individual rationalizations play a significant role in perpetuating exercise behaviors that may be harmful.
Further research is needed to develop interventions that address the nuances of exercise addiction and promote healthier relationships with physical activity.