Addictions are a serious threat to the health and well-being of individuals. With many different activities and substances, a human can easily become dependent on something harmful to them. Things that are commonly considered to be addictive are drugs, alcohol, thrill, sweets, cigarettes, and tobacco. Most of these things are detrimental to the human body when exposed to regularly or in excessive amounts, making their status as dangerous justified. An action not many people would consider to be harmful or addictive can form a crippling dependency under the right circumstances. That activity is working out, meaning putting a strain on one’s body to gain fitness and increase body mass.
With many seeking to keep themselves healthy and be strong, a workout is seen by many as a most beneficial activity that rarely brings harm to people. This assessment, unfortunately, does not account for some of the details. As a result of personal factors and the presence of eating or image disorders, an individual can be unable to stop exercising even when it is detrimental to their life. Endorphins and dopamine gained as a result of this activity let the body know that exercise is pleasant, giving the brain an incentive to desire more workouts. Conditions such as anorexia or bulimia can also incentivize a person to become addicted to working out. Some researchers also state that a significant percent of exercise addicts also suffer from other harmful habits, such as smoking or alcohol abuse. Overall, individual factors such as the state of one’s mind play a crucial role in developing a dependency on working out, and some people can be in more danger than others.