Work

Demographics and physical and mental health of clients at a sports center with and without exercise addiction

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background While exercise is widely recognized for its health benefits, excessive engagement can lead to exercise addiction (EA), a behavioral condition characterized by compulsive and harmful physical activity. Limited research exists on the demographic, physical, and mental health profiles of individuals with EA. This descriptive cross-sectional study examines demographic factors and related health outcomes among clients at a university sports center with and without EA. Methods A total of 386 participants were randomly recruited through convenience sampling at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok, Thailand. EA, physical well-being, and mental well-being were assessed using the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), the Knee and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being (QEWB), respectively. Demographic and exercise-related variables, psychological well-being, and knee outcomes were compared between participants with and without EA using Chi-square tests. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of EA. Results The majority of participants were male (55.2%), with a mean age of 27.5 years (SD = 10.9). Among the 386 participants, 322 (83.4%) exhibited partial symptoms, and 35 (9.1%) exhibited full symptoms of EA. Full symptoms of EA were significantly associated with gender, exercise frequency, smoking status, hours spent walking, hours spent in other sports, cognitive focus on metabolism during exercise, and poor knee outcomes (P < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed that being male was the sole significant predictor of EA (OR = 2.65, P = 0.024). Conclusions EA was prevalent among clients at the sports center and was associated with adverse knee outcomes. Being male was identified as a key predictor of EA. Future research should explore additional factors associated with EA and its effects on physical and mental health.

Source: PeerJ

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.19002

Authors: Rasmon Kalayasiri, Chayamon Rattanawijarn

Institutions: Thai Red Cross Society, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Physical Activity and Health

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,395