Mass. From her professional life as an aerobic champion and gym manager she has a first-hand knowledge of exercise addiction. She understands that people strive to obtain better fitness and leaner bodies. The recommended amount of exercise for an average person, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, is three to four workouts of 20 to 60 minutes a week. Exercising more can lead to injuries. Compulsive exercisers often have joint injuries and knee problems.
Women can lose their menstrual periods, which can lead to bone loss and fertility problems.
Nothing keeps them from working out. Their world depends on exercise. That is one of the reasons why gyms are popular with obsessive exercisers. They are always available. According to Schenck, up to 5 percent of the members in an average gym are compulsive exercisers.