Morbid exercise behavior: addiction or psychological escape?

Szabo, A, Griffiths, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Demetrovics, Z, 2018. Morbid exercise behavior: addiction or psychological escape? In: Budde, H and Wegner, M, eds., Exercise and mental health: neurobiological mechanisms. Boca Raton: CRC Press, pp. 277-311. ISBN 9781315113906

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Abstract

This chapter examines exaggerated exercise behavior from the perspective of behavioral addictions. First, the theoretically most appropriate and thorough definition is presented with a perspective on the much needed theoretical and semantic consistency in the field. Subsequently, we differentiate between primary exercise addiction, used as a means of escape from a psychological hardship, from secondary exercise addiction, in which exercise is used as a means for weight loss in addition to dieting. Next, we present and evaluate the most commonly used tools in the assessment of the risk for exercise addiction. Nine theories are forwarded for the explanation of exercise addiction, and are critically reviewed, while it is concluded that the best theory would emerge from knowledge gained from the diagnosed cases of morbid exercise behavior. We stress that morbid exercise behavior may be rather “revolutionary” (suddenly erupting) than evolutionary (slowly building up), because many individuals, including competitive athletes, exhibit an exaggerated amount of exercise without any sign of morbidity. Those using exercise as a means of coping with stress may show signs of addiction. However, it is the task of future research to determine why and who will resort to morbid exercise behavior in dealing with psychological hardship. Lessons from the case studies may be the most productive in such efforts.

Item Type:	Chapter in book
Creators:	Szabo, A., Griffiths, M. and Demetrovics, Z.
Publisher:	CRC Press
Place of Publication:	Boca Raton
Date:	2018
ISBN:	9781315113906
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.4324/9781315113906 DOI 2187215 Other
Rights:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by CRC Press in Exercise and mental health: neurobiological mechanisms on 17 Apr 2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315113906
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	06 Aug 2024 15:14
Last Modified:	06 Aug 2024 15:14
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/51933

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