When Fitness Becomes a Trap: New Research on Exercise Addiction Reveals Hidden Costs
A growing body of research is revealing a troubling paradox: the pursuit of fitness, endurance, and peak performance can cross a line into harmful addiction. A recent examination of patient stories, clinical observations, and therapy outcomes highlights how a fixation on running, training, and “being fit” can become a dedicated coping mechanism that undermines health, social life, and emotional balance. The picture is not that exercise is bad; rather, the danger lies in rigidity, withdrawal symptoms, and the erosion of a healthy relationship with one’s body and emotions. A compelling case from a student-turned-athlete offers a human face to the science: a young woman who once believed that miles and medals defined her worth, only to realize that the same drive could be a barrier to recovery and well-being.