Primary and Secondary Exercise Dependence in a Sample of Cyclists

Mental disorders in individuals at risk for exercise addiction – A systematic review

“…Amongst the fourteen studies which address eating disorders, evidence for higher scores in the populations classed as at risk for exercise addiction was found in nine ( Harris et al, 2015 , Lejoyeux et al, 2008 , Lejoyeux et al, 2012 , Lichtenstein et al, 2014 , Maraz et al, 2015 , Meulemans et al, 2014 , Muller et al, 2015 , Rocks et al, 2017 , Torstveit et al, 2019 ). One found no difference in the scores between groups ( Levit et al, 2018 ); furthermore, four studies reported only whether subjects had high scores in one or both domains, not whether there were specific associations ( Blaydon et al, 2004 , Blaydon and Lindner, 2002 , Cook and Luke, 2017 , Grandi et al, 2011 ).…”

“…Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, n = 2; bulimia nervosa, n = 2; not specified, n = 10) were addressed in fourteen studies ( Blaydon et al, 2004 , Blaydon and Lindner, 2002 , Cook and Luke, 2017 , Grandi et al, 2011 , Harris et al, 2015 , Lejoyeux et al, 2008 , Lejoyeux et al, 2012 , Levit et al, 2018 , Lichtenstein et al, 2014 , Maraz et al, 2015 , Meulemans et al, 2014 , Muller et al, 2015 , Rocks et al, 2017 , Torstveit et al, 2019 ). Six studies addressed depression ( Jee and Eun, 2018 , Levit et al, 2018 , Li et al, 2015 , Mayolas-Pi et al, 2016 , Weinstein et al, 2015 ), four addressed anxiety ( Levit et al, 2018 , Li et al, 2015 , Mayolas-Pi et al, 2016 , Weinstein et al, 2015 ), five addressed other addictive disorders (alcohol, n = 3; nicotine, n = 2 buying, n = 3; internet, n = 2; food, n = 1) ( Hauck et al, 2020 , Lejoyeux et al, 2008 , Lejoyeux et al, 2012 , Muller et al, 2015 , Szabo et al, 2018 ), and one addressed borderline personality disorder ( Maraz et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Six studies addressed depression ( Jee and Eun, 2018 , Levit et al, 2018 , Li et al, 2015 , Mayolas-Pi et al, 2016 , Weinstein et al, 2015 ), four addressed anxiety ( Levit et al, 2018 , Li et al, 2015 , Mayolas-Pi et al, 2016 , Weinstein et al, 2015 ), five addressed other addictive disorders (alcohol, n = 3; nicotine, n = 2 buying, n = 3; internet, n = 2; food, n = 1) ( Hauck et al, 2020 , Lejoyeux et al, 2008 , Lejoyeux et al, 2012 , Muller et al, 2015 , Szabo et al, 2018 ), and one addressed borderline personality disorder ( Maraz et al, 2015 ). Nine studies addressed only eating disorders ( Blaydon et al, 2004 , Blaydon and Lindner, 2002 , Cook and Luke, 2017 , Grandi et al, 2011 , Harris et al, 2015 , Lichtenstein et al, 2014 , Meulemans et al, 2014 , Rocks et al, 2017 , Torstveit et al, 2019 ); 11 studies addressed at least one other disorder ( Back et al, 2019 , Hauck et al, 2020 , Jee and Eun, 2018 , Lejoyeux et al, 2008 , Lejoyeux et al, 2012 , Levit et al, 2018 , Li et al, 2015 , Maraz et al, 2015 , Mayolas-Pi et al, 2017 , Muller et al, 2015 , Weinstein et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Of the 20 studies included in this review, thirteen found evidence for higher scores on at least one psychiatric disorder or disturbance among individuals with high scores for, or at risk of, exercise addiction ( Harris et al, 2015 , Hauck et al, 2020 , Lejoyeux et al, 2008 , Lejoyeux et al, 2012 , Li et al, 2015 , Lichtenstein et al, 2014 , Maraz et al, 2015 , Mayolas-Pi et al, 2017 , Meulemans et al, 2014 , Muller et al, 2015 , Rocks et al, 2017 , Torstveit et al, 2019 , Weinstein et al, 2015 ) Five did not report prevalence rates of other disorders within the study population ( Blaydon and Lindner, 2002 , Blaydon et al, 2004 , Cook and Luke, 2017 , Grandi et al, 2011 , Levit et al, 2018 ) and two found no difference between the groups ( Jee and Eun, 2018 , Szabo et al, 2018 ) and in one case, lower rates of nicotine abuse in the at-risk group ( Lejoyeux et al, 2008 ). Below, we report these findings for each disorder.…”

The Prevalence of Exercise Addiction Symptoms in a Sample of National Level Elite Athletes

“…Exercise addiction may be part of the eating disorder pathology and therefore, often the eating disorder symptoms are considered separately in the assessment of exercise addiction (Cook and Luke, 2017 ). The reason for the commonality is that exaggerated exercise is also part of eating disorders in which it serves as a method of losing weight in addition to dieting.…”