Exercise Addiction Essay -- Exercise Dependence

Exercise is often thought of in a positive light. It is common belief in todays society that a reasoned diet and a regular exercise routine will lead to a long, healthy life. And in the simplest sense of the word, it will. It has been a tried and true method acting to control and lose weight, lift a someones mood, boost energy, combat a variety of health conditions and diseases, promote better sleep patterns, and dismantle increase libido. (Mayo Clinic, July 23, 2011). So with all of these being possible and probable benefits of working out, why would it possibly be anything other than good? Certainly, something with so many benefits mucklet be a bad thing? However, we may overlook the fact that it is bid any good thing in excess it usher out become dangerous very quickly. In society, there are increasingly more(prenominal) athletes that are pushing themselves so hard to the point they are making themselves sick. Whatever happened to exercising for simple joy, or competing because of a love for sport? The motivations behind an individuals exercise habits are directly related to whether they give away an addiction. There is even a term for this over exercising phenomenon Exercise Addiction, or Exercise Dependence. Exercise dependence is a craving that a person would experience, manifesting itself in the form of compulsiveness in relation to exercise behaviour. It can show in physiological symptoms, such as withdrawal, or psychological signs like anxiety and depression. (Hausenblaus, Downs. 2000). Some of these psychological symptoms can be observed in anyone who is competitive and/or elite in their chosen sport, but it may not necessarily mean that they are addicted. It is not nearly as likely to see such behaviours in moderate exe... ...iate control that they are more at risk for addiction. Research still needs to clarify many facets of this affliction, so that the general public can access and be educated on the topic. If this is achieved, the incidence of exercise addiction should decrease, and eventually become just a shadow of its current state. Works Citedhttp//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1751359/http//drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/brain.htmlhttp//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32573781/ns/health-fitness/t/runners-high-can-turn-real-addiction/.Ttg0LPLTpMYhttp//www.anorexiaathletica.com/Carroll, D., S. Rodgers, I. Cockerill, and D. Bamber. Diagnostic Criteria for Exercise Dependence in Women. National Centre for Biotechnology Information. British Journal of Sports Medicine, Oct. 2003. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. .