Exercise Addiction: When Working Out Becomes a Compulsive Obsession

From a young age, we’re taught that exercise is essential. Move your body, stay fit, get your steps in, these are the messages we hear over and over again. For many of us, it becomes a non-negotiable part of our daily routine, something to be proud of. But what happens when your commitment to exercise starts to feel more like a compulsion or an addiction than a choice?

What is exercise addiction?

It might be hard to believe but exercise addiction is real. And no, it’s not just another headline the media has latched onto. It’s a condition that can seriously impact your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, and it deserves to be taken seriously.

Exercise addiction is a behavioural pattern where someone feels compelled to exercise excessively, often to the point of harm. It can involve pushing through injuries, prioritising workouts over social or work commitments and experiencing intense guilt or distress when exercise is missed. What’s more, these behaviours continue even when the individual recognises that their exercise routine is causing more harm than good.

What are the signs of exercise addiction?

It’s important to keep an eye on these things. For most people, exercise is a positive and important part of life. It boosts mental health, improves physical wellbeing and brings structure to the day. But for others, it can turn into something more worrying, something that starts to feel like a need rather than a choice.

Recognising the signs of exercise addiction, either in yourself or someone close to you, is a crucial step toward finding balance again. Here are some psychological and behavioural signs that may point to an unhealthy relationship with exercise:

• You feel anxious or guilty if you miss a workout.

Even when there’s a valid reason, such as being unwell, tired or needing to prioritise other parts of your life, skipping a session still feels wrong.

• You exercise to manage uncomfortable emotions.

Whether it’s stress, sadness, frustration or low self-esteem, working out becomes the only way to feel okay, even if only for a short while.

• You push through pain, injury or illness.

Rest days feel like failure, so you ignore physical warning signs and continue training even when your body is clearly asking you to stop.

• You structure your life around your exercise routine.

Social plans, work responsibilities or relationships start to take a back seat to ensure nothing gets in the way of your workouts.

• You feel like what you’re doing is never enough.

No matter how long or hard you train, it still doesn’t feel like you’ve done enough. There’s always a pressure to go further or do more.

These signs don’t mean you need to give up exercise altogether. But if they sound familiar, it might be time to reflect on the role fitness plays in your life and whether that relationship still feels healthy.

What does the research say about exercise addiction?

Unfortunately, exercise addiction isn’t yet officially recognised as a diagnosable condition, and that makes understanding and treating it even more difficult. However, recent research is starting to shed some light.

In a recent 2025 study of individuals previously identified as having symptoms of exercise addiction, researchers tracked changes in their mental health over roughly 1.7 years. What they found was telling.

Most participants still met the criteria for exercise addiction after the follow-up period.

Around 37% showed no improvement, some experienced a reduction in symptoms, while others actually saw their symptoms worsen. This suggests exercise addiction isn’t a passing phase but may be a long-term condition.

• Eighteen out of the 19 participants had at least one diagnosable mental health disorder.

This shows a strong link between exercise addiction and wider psychological struggles.

• Major depressive disorder was the most common co-occurring condition, with a lifetime prevalence of 73.7%.

This highlights how emotional distress may be tied closely to compulsive exercise behaviours.

• Over half of the participants were also diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

This points to a pattern of rigid thinking and high self-control that might feed into an unhealthy relationship with exercise.

The study suggests that exercise addiction is more than just a lifestyle gone too far. It can be a persistent and distressing condition, often tied to complex mental health issues. While the research is still in early stages, it’s a strong signal that people who can’t stop exercising might not be just ‘driven’ or ‘disciplined’. They might be dealing with something that deserves proper attention and care.

Is exercise addiction related to eating disorders?

Using a bit of common sense, it’s easy to see why eating disorders and exercise addiction might be linked. Both can stem from a desire to improve appearance or deal with deeper emotional struggles. But does the research support that connection?

Studies have shown that exercise addiction and eating disorders frequently go hand in hand. In fact, up to 48% of people with signs of exercise addiction also show symptoms of an eating disorder. This isn’t just seen in professional athletes, either, as amateur and recreational exercisers are affected too.

One recent study looked even deeper into this connection by exploring how attachment styles might influence both exercise addiction and disordered eating. Researchers surveyed over 400 recreational exercisers and found something interesting:

• People with anxious attachment styles were more likely to show symptoms of eating disorders.

This link is often tied to body image concerns and the use of food to manage difficult emotions or seek validation.

• People with avoidant attachment styles were more likely to show signs of exercise addiction.

In these cases, excessive physical activity was used as a coping strategy, helping the individual feel in control and emotionally distanced.

In short, while eating disorders and exercise addiction often co-exist, they can be driven by different emotional needs and coping mechanisms. This study helps us understand that these behaviours don’t appear out of nowhere; they actually can stem from deeper psychological patterns.

How do I know if I’m addicted to exercise?

If you’re wondering whether your relationship with exercise might be unhealthy, try answering the following questions. If you find yourself saying yes to several of them, it could be worth exploring further with a healthcare or mental health professional:

• Do you feel anxious, irritable or guilty when you miss a workout?
• Have you continued to exercise despite pain or injury, fearing that stopping would set you back or make you feel worse?
• Do you plan your entire day around your exercise routine, even if it means cancelling plans or skipping important responsibilities?
• Has someone close to you expressed concern about how much or how intensely you exercise?
• Do you feel like you’re never doing enough, even after long or intense workout sessions?
• Have you pushed your body past its limits, ignoring signs of burnout, fatigue or even illness, just to keep up with your routine?

I think I may have an exercise addiction – what can I do?

If you’re worried that your relationship with exercise has become unhealthy, you’re not alone.. Exercise addiction often has deeper emotional roots and there’s no shame in reaching out for support.

At UKAT, we offer therapy-led treatment designed to help you explore those underlying issues, whether they’re linked to control, self-worth or something else entirely. With therapies like CBT, one-to-one counselling and ongoing aftercare, recovery is more than possible and within reach.

If exercise is taking over your life, contact UKAT today. We’re here to help you rebuild a healthier balance, one step at a time.