Personality of the excessive exerciser

This study investigated some personality characteristics of excessive exercisers, in light of the suggestion that they may share a dysfunctional personality profile with eating disordered individuals. The participants were 205 men and women recreational exercisers recruited from gymnasiums. Contrary to prediction, excessive excercisers were not found to have lower self-esteem, more external locus of control or to be more obsessive-compulsive than moderate exercisers, nor were there any relationships between self-esteem, locus of control and obligatory exercise behaviour. These findings suggest that exercise is not an expression of a dysfunctional personality.