Mens sana in corpore sano, or exercise abuse? Clinical considerations

The national preoccupation with health, body functioning, and appearance has made physical exercise a common and widespread activity. Exercise undoubtedly helps to promote and maintain health and could be easily overlooked as a manifestation of different kinds of psychopathology. The author proposes a dynamic view of the meaning of exercise that helps in distinguishing three different categories: healthy-neurotic, compulsive, and addictive. Clinical vignettes illustrating each group are offered, as well as psychological characteristics found in the course of psychotherapy that would be helpful in the assessment, treatment, and prognosis of individuals with difficulties in this area.