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Prevalence of Risk for Exercise Dependence: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Background

Exercise dependence (EXD) can be considered an addictive behaviour because it presents signs typical of other addictive behaviours. Despite possible health problems related to EXD, the prevalence of risk for EXD has never been systematically reviewed.

Objective

This article aimed to systematically review the prevalence of risk for EXD.

Methods

Studies were identified from searches in the ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science electronic databases up to June 2018. Empirical studies were selected if (1) they included the outcomes of the prevalence of EXD; (2) participants were regular exercisers; and (3) they were published in either the English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish languages. A total of 34 articles met the inclusion criteria.

Results

The prevalence of risk for EXD was estimated to be between 3 and 7% of regular exercisers and the university student population, and between 6 and 9% of the athlete population.

Conclusion

The results of this review indicated that the prevalence of risk for EXD varies with the characteristics of the exerciser, but an overall prevalence of 3–9% is estimated. Risk for EXD is a cause for concern and, from a public health point of view, is a problem that has to be addressed.

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Data availability

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Professor Bruce Jones for revising the document.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Interdisciplinar do Estudo da Performance Humana, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa, 1499-002, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal

    Adilson Marques & Miguel Peralta

  2. Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Adilson Marques

  3. Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Adilson Marques & Margarida Gaspar de Matos

  4. Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Hugo Sarmento

  5. Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico de Beja, Beja, Portugal

    Vânia Loureiro

  6. Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal

    Élvio R. Gouveia

  7. Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Margarida Gaspar de Matos

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  1. Adilson Marques
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  2. Miguel Peralta
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Correspondence to Adilson Marques.

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Conflict of interest

Adilson Marques, Miguel Peralta, Hugo Sarmento, Vânia Loureiro, Élvio Rúbio Gouveia and Margarida Gaspar de Matos declare they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this review.

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Marques, A., Peralta, M., Sarmento, H. et al. Prevalence of Risk for Exercise Dependence: A Systematic Review. Sports Med 49, 319–330 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-1011-4

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