Occurrence of Exercise Dependence in a College-Aged Population

Students (n = 257) were evaluated for scope and commitment to physical activity by use of self-reported data that assessed amount of activity per week and the obligatory or pathological nature of their activity patterns. Exhibiting atypical activity patterns, 21.8% of the students in the sample exercised 360 or more minutes per week and demonstrated at least one exercise "dependent" response pattern to queries about obligatory or pathological exercise. Although clinicians and educators should promote the many advantages of regular participation in physical activity, they should acknowledge that, for some, it may have undesirable consequences that occur at a frequency parallel to other age-related negative behaviors.