Body Representations and Meanings of Exercise in Young Adults at Risk of Exercise Addiction

Abstract

Physical exercise provides well-established benefits for physical and mental health; however, in some individuals, it may develop potentially problematic features. The aim of this study was to understand body representations and the meanings attributed to exercise among young adults at risk of exercise addiction who attend a gym in Medellín, Colombia. Method: A qualitative study with a phenomenological, exploratory-descriptive design was conducted. The Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) was administered to 27 gym users, from whom three participants with scores indicative of risk were purposively selected. Data were collected through body mapping and semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a deductive-inductive approach. Results: Four main categories emerged: exercise as well-being and emotional regulation; discipline, self-demand, and the need to exercise; the body as history, capability, and identity; and exercise as social connection and belonging. A tension emerged between the positive meanings attributed to exercise and experiences of self-demand, frustration, and distress when unable to exercise. Conclusion: Understanding the risk of exercise addiction requires considering not only exercise-related behaviors but also the meanings, experiences, and functions that exercise assumes in everyday life.