Exercise dependence and its relation to eating attitudes and behaviours in male and female gym members : a quantitative and qualitative analysis

• Main Author: Herzsprung, Nataly Tanja
• Other Authors: Du Preez, Peter
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2015
• Subjects: Clinical Psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13475

Bibliography: leaves 73-87. === Generally, exercise is an adaptive behaviour that serves to enhance physical and psychological well-being. However, recently the potential abuses of engaging in excessive exercise have received much attention. Some individuals may become so caught up in their exercise routine that they may be quite unwilling or unable to stop exercising, even when it is medically or socially contraindicated. An increasing number of physically active individuals seem to be vulnerable to the 'exercise dependence' syndrome. To examine the link between exercise dependence and eating pathology, 57women and 32 men were recruited at three Health and Racquet Clubs in the Cape Town area. They varied in the type and amount of exercise involved in and expressed different degrees of the pressure to be fit versus the pressure to be thin.