Although exercise is usually great for our physical and mental well-being, it can become a problem when you become addicted. This happens much in the same way all addictions start: it makes you feel good. Similar to sex, exercise releases endorphins and serotonin, the hormones which make us happy and of course, this can become addictive. Combine this with your friends, family and partner commenting on how amazing you look and it could be a recipe for disaster.

So, how do you know you’re exercising compulsively and not just dedicated to working out? Like any addiction, the exercise will take over your life. It’ll start to take over your spare time and then, eventually, time you’re supposed to be spending with others so relationships start to wilt. For new couples, this can be catastrophic because this is the time you’re getting to know each other and if you’re constantly cancelling dates or unwilling to spend time with them over the gym, the relationship is unlikely to last long. In addition, you may feel anxious if you’re unable to exercise; it’s often this anxiety that will lead you to over-exercise.

As well as negatively affecting relationships in your life and your mental health, your physical health can also be impacted on by over-exercising. Your joints, muscles and bones won’t have time to heal and this will result in pain and future problems. It’s also likely that you won’t be consuming enough calories to sustain your energy, so you’ll be fatigued, drawn and dehydrated.

Treatment for this kind of addiction centers on talking therapy, as you need to get to the root of the problem so it doesn’t reoccur. Taking a break from exercise, as with most addictions, is also recommended, as your body needs to heal while you determine why you’re damaging it.