Gyms and Obsessive Exercising

Always sick? Obsessive exercising might be to blame.

Spending hours at the gym, day after day, or talking nonstop about working out are just two examples of someone who may be obsessed with exercise. Better known as compulsive exercise, obsessive exercisers choose to exercise over hanging out with friends or loved ones, are never satisfied with their physical shape or are highly fearful they will gain weight if they stop exercising. Seek medical attention if you or someone you know show signs of being obsessed with exercise.

Obsessive Exercising

When it comes to exercise, too much can be a bad thing. According to the American Council on Exercise, obsessive exercising, or overtraining, increases your risk of serious health ailments, including chronic pain and fatigue, a chronically-elevated heart rate, lack of concentration, mood swings and problems with menstruation. According to the Nemours Foundation, more females than males may take to obsessive exercising in order to deal with their emotions as well as to feel more in control of their lives. They may also exercise obsessively due to psychological fears, such as weight gain.

Obsessive Exercising Complications

By spending countless hours at the gym or filling up your free time with sports and other physical activities, you put your body and health at risk. Obsessive exercise impacts your body’s ability to recover from physical activity, increasing your risk of sprains and strains as well as damage to muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons and bones. Obsessive exercising may also impact your hormones, negatively affect your period, increase the risk of bone loss and may make you more prone to developing other unhealthy habits, such as an eating disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

Those who suffer from obsessive exercise may feel like going to the gym is more of an obligation than one way to live a happy, healthy life. You may choose to exercise instead of hanging out with friends or a loved one and will exercise even if you are sick or in pain. You might also be extremely obsessed with your weight, diet, counting calories and may worry about the consequences of missing a workout. If you do miss a workout, you might spend twice as long at the gym to make up for it. Those who are obsessed with exercising at the gym are also never satisfied with their weight and base self-worth on how much weight they’ve lost or how many hours spent at the gym.

Seek Medical Attention

If you suffer from obsessive exercise, it is important to seek medical care. Obsessive exercisers need to learn the value of balancing exercise with periods of rest, as well as deal with any psychological issues about food, dieting, self-esteem and weight. If you notice a friend who talks non-stop about exercising, encourage her to talk with her doctor, nutritionist or a therapist.