Locations:
Search IconSearch

Could You Be Addicted to Exercise?

Sneaking off or turning down social activities to exercise might be signs of an addiction

person running outside

Maybe it started off as a resolution to get in the best shape of your life. But your once-celebrated exercise habit now seems to be taking over — and your loved ones are getting concerned. Could you be addicted to exercise?

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

“Exercise addiction is real, and it can lead to many harmful consequences,” says psychiatry specialist Lindsay Honaker, DO.

Dr. Honaker explains how to tell if you’re addicted to exercise — and how to overcome it.

What is exercise addiction?

An addiction is when you are psychologically or physically dependent on a substance or behavior. “With an exercise addiction, you have the urge or feel the need to exercise even when it leads to negative consequences,” says Dr. Honaker.

While exercise is beneficial, doing it in excess, too intensely or in extreme conditions can be dangerous. “When you don’t give your body enough rest, your immune system weakens. A weakened immune system makes you more susceptible to illnesses like influenza and COVID-19,” she continues.

“I have also seen cases — more often than you might think — of people who push themselves beyond their limit and develop a life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscles, which ultimately leads to kidney failure.”

Overexercising can stress your body, increasing your risk of:

Dr. Honaker warns that an exercise addiction can sometimes be a gateway to other addictions. “Some may resort to taking substances, such as high-dose caffeine, Adderall™ and stimulants, to exercise through illness or low energy. I even know fitness competitors who use both stimulants and illegal substances like cocaine to push through,” she shares.

Advertisement

“Or you could break a bone and keep working out despite your doctor’s advice, making you prone to more and worse injuries down the road,” she adds.

Why is working out so addictive?

Our brains are hard-wired with a reward system. When you experience something pleasurable, this system releases a feel-good hormone called dopamine. But dopamine is just one of several happy hormones your body makes. Your pituitary gland also releases endorphins, which act like natural pain relievers and increase pleasure.

When you work out, your body releases both endorphins and dopamine. (Ever heard of a runner’s high?)

“When the effects of these hormones wear off, your brain remembers how they made you feel. It then wants to do the same behavior again to get those happy feelings back,” Dr. Honaker explains. “The brain does the same thing when people use substances like cocaine. That’s what leads to addictive behavior.”

While exercise addiction isn’t that common in the general population, Dr. Honaker says it’s more common in people who have eating or anxiety disorders. It’s also more commonly associated with certain types of exercise, like:

How do you know if you’re addicted to exercise?

To figure out if you have a problem, Dr. Honaker recommends asking yourself:

  • Am I spending more and more time exercising to experience its feel-good effects? And am I spending less time doing other things I used to do or turning down social activities to get workouts in?
  • Does my entire day revolve around exercise or do I spend most of my day thinking about exercise? Is skipping a workout not an option?
  • Do I feel irritable and agitated when I’m not exercising or can’t get to the gym?
  • Have my family or friends expressed concern about my exercise habits?
  • Do I get sick more often or am I having more trouble sleeping?
  • Are my muscles constantly sore?
  • Do I exercise secretly or sneak around to do it?

If you answered yes to some of these questions, you may need help to regain balance in your exercise habit. “The first step is recognizing there’s an issue,” notes Dr. Honaker. “Talk with a trusted friend to help you better understand if you’ve crossed the line from healthy to obsessed.”

Treatments for exercise addiction

If you think you may be addicted to exercise, you aren’t alone. And there are several ways you can overcome it:

Change your routine

Dr. Honaker recommends slowly stepping back from your exercise routine. “Don’t stop abruptly. That would be more detrimental because you’ll want to go back and work out even harder,” she says. “Instead, start by reducing the number of days, hours or intensity of your workouts and go from there.”

Advertisement

Try talk therapy

Therapists can not only help you create a plan to scale back, but they can also help you change the way you think about exercise. And if you have other medical issues like anxiety, depression or an eating disorder, they can help you manage them, too. “Look for a therapist who does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Sports psychologists are also an excellent potential resource,” Dr. Honaker advises.

Consider medication

Medication may help those who use exercise to cope with anxiety, depression or stress. Antidepressants such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can help with obsessive thoughts about exercise. They’re also helpful for people with coexisting eating disorders.

When to see a healthcare provider

Don’t know where to start? Pay a visit to your primary care provider or a healthcare provider, and be open with them about your exercise and eating habits. They can help you figure out your treatment options and best next steps.

“It’s also important to keep up with your blood work,” Dr. Honaker says. “Sometimes, your doctor can see deficiencies in your lab work that can be a symptom of an exercise addiction.

She continues, “Exercise is a great way to reduce your stress hormones, which helps you cope with anxiety and depression. But when you cross the line from just enough to too much exercise, you end up spiking those cortisol (stress hormone) levels instead. It’s a fine balance, but you can definitely achieve it.”

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Two people wearing virtual reality gaming masks, exercising to what they see
December 12, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Exergaming Can Improve Your Physical Fitness by Reimagining ‘Exercise’

Finding any reason to enjoy your movement is key, and active video gaming can help

Older person, in bike helmet, sitting on bike on trail in woods taking a break
December 10, 2024/Orthopaedics
Best Types of Exercise for Hip Arthritis

Swimming, cycling and walking can help keep your hips strong and mobile

Smiling person with headphones on, sweeping floor in living room
December 6, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Understanding Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT Exercise)

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis is all the activity we do that’s not technically exercise but is still important to your health and well-being

Person spotting a person doing an inclined bench press in gym
November 22, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Here’s How To Do a Bench Press Correctly

Pulling your shoulders back and controlling the weight’s descent are key to a good bench press

Hand pouring scoop of supplement powder into shaker, with blurry pills on the counter
November 5, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Is the Creatine Loading Phase Worth Doing?

The method can bring faster strength gains, but it’s not necessary

People using elliptical machines in a gym
October 22, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
10 Ways an Elliptical Machine Benefits Your Health

This low-impact, full-body workout burns calories and is easy on your joints

Couple raking leaves in their front yard by their house
October 16, 2024/Orthopaedics
Tips To Avoid Back Pain From Raking Leaves

Using proper form and the right equipment can help keep you injury-free while gathering up that colorful foliage

Person wearing a mask with a germ symbol on their sweater, walking their dog outside
October 7, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Is It OK To Exercise With COVID-19?

You can work out with mild COVID-19, but not in a gym, and listen to your body and don’t overdo it

Trending Topics

Person touching aching ear, with home remedies floating around
Home Remedies for an Ear Infection: What To Try and What To Avoid

Not all ear infections need antibiotics — cold and warm compresses and changing up your sleep position can help

Infographic of foods high in iron, including shrimp, oysters, peas, cream of wheat, prunes, eggs, broccoli, beef and chicken
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Person squeezing half a lemon into a glass of water
Is Starting Your Day With Lemon Water Healthy?

A glass of lemon water in the morning can help with digestion and boost vitamin C levels, and may even help get you into a better routine

Ad