Exercise addiction is associated with several mental health problems
A large review found recurring correlations with eating disorders, stress, depression and other symptoms, alongside substantial variation between studies.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Exercise addiction was associated with a range of mental health problems, including eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression and stress. The review describes how these problems occur together; it does not show that exercise addiction caused them or that they caused exercise addiction. It also does not establish the mental health effects of ordinary exercise.
Between-study heterogeneity was high across the reported associations. The abstract does not describe study timing or how exercise addiction was assessed, so this abstract-based account cannot clarify the direction or consistency of relationships in particular populations.
Different strengths of association
The authors described moderate correlations with eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression and stress. Correlations with body image disturbance, anxiety and emotional dysregulation were smaller, though still statistically significant. These are association measures, not rates of illness.
Context changed the pattern
Associations varied with region, the proportion of female participants and exercise levels. These moderator analyses suggest that context matters, but they do not establish why differences occurred or determine an individual person's mental health risk.
The original publication
The association between exercise addiction and mental health problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wang X, Yang X, Tao T et al.
J Affect Disord · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 40782920
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.