An international study, led by Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) and the Institute for Health and Biomedical Research of Alicante (ISABIAL), has identified perfectionism and competitive sports practice as significant factors associated with the risk of developing exercise addiction.
The research, published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, analyzed over 1,000 young adults with an average age of 25, comprising 65% males, including both athletes and non-athletes. Participants completed questionnaires regarding exercise habits, personality traits, and motivations related to physical activity. Artificial intelligence techniques were applied to interpret the data and identify complex patterns among the psychological and behavioral variables.
According to Thomas Zandonai, a researcher at UMH, perfectionism and certain body image goals, such as weight loss or muscle gain, predict a higher risk of exercise dependence, particularly among individuals involved in competitive sports.
Results indicated that perfectionism was the most consistent predictor among 27 analyzed factors, followed by the desire to lose weight, build muscle, and variables linked to sports intensity. This pattern was observed in both professional and amateur athletes, with risk signs appearing more frequently among amateurs compared to those who exercise recreationally. No significant differences were found between men and women.
Exercise addiction shares characteristics with other addictive behaviors and is also connected to conditions like eating disorders and compulsive exercise, which can complicate diagnosis. The study authors emphasized that the findings represent population-level risk models rather than individual diagnoses. Ana MarÃa Peiró, a UMH professor and coauthor, advised that individuals experiencing distress or interference with daily life due to exercise should consult health professionals.
The study received funding from the Spanish Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs through the MORPHEO project and was conducted in collaboration with the Addiction Science Laboratory at the University of Trento, Italy.