Risk Factors for Exercise Addiction
Those people who are under a lot of pressure to stay fit or stay in shape tend to be at a higher risk of exercise addiction. The same holds true for obese or overweight individuals who want to lose weight quickly. Some scientists have speculated that around 15 percent of people with exercise addiction may also be addicted to illicit drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products. Around 20 percent of them would experience other addictions, such as shopping addiction or sex addiction. Former alcohol abusers and drug addicts sometimes turn to physical activities to fill the emptiness left by their past addictions. This mechanism is quite similar to how former smokers become addicted to caffeinated drinks after stopping smoking. [6]
